Ronda Rousey Returns to Training But Says a Comeback Isn’t the Goal

Training for Joy, Not Obligation

Rousey described how a casual request from a coach to help with a judo black belt rekindled her love for mat work. One session led to another—some judo, then rolling in wrestling and jiu-jitsu, then pad work with her strength and conditioning coach. The difference this time, she says, is motivation: “It just kind of came from a place of joy… instead of what I feel obligated or coerced to do.”

Reclaiming Her Body After Childbirth

The 38-year-old said pregnancy and postpartum recovery reshaped her relationship with training. “Being pregnant is tough… I wanted to get my bodily identity back,” she explained. Returning to MMA practice helped restore her sense of freedom and athleticism: “It’s what my body really wants… I just feel healthier and better and I want to train again.”

Concussions, Closure, and the Hall of Fame

Rousey effectively cut ties with MMA after a 2016 loss to Amanda Nunes, later revealing in her autobiography that repeated concussions influenced her decision to walk away. She entered the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018 and became a major star in WWE, steering clear of an MMA comeback until now, when training once again feels emotionally sustainable.

The Door Isn’t Shut But Don’t Expect an Announcement

Asked if gym time means a return to the Octagon, Rousey kept it open-ended but noncommittal. For now, purpose beats promotion. “It makes me happy,” she said. “I’m training for my own joy. Is that bad?”

Bottom line: Rousey’s back in the gym, not on the comeback trail at least not yet. The spark is joy, not belts or headlines, and that may be exactly why fans are watching her next move so closely.