Ronda Rousey photos from Olympics to MMA UFC WWE

Ronda Rousey (left) and Gina Carano (right) face off as Jake Paul (center) watches at a press conference for their upcoming MMA featherweight bout on May 16.
Revisit the career of Ronda Rousey from Olympic bronze medalist to a trailblazer who helped bring women’s MMA into the mainstream. Rousey rose from judo standout to a dominant UFC champion, record-setting finisher, and crossover star. Her career evolved beyond the cage, from Hollywood to WWE, cementing a legacy that reshaped combat sports.

Kirby Lee, Imagn Images

Ronda Rousey (in white) competes against Telitha Ellis in the Senior National Judo Championships on April 30, 2004 in San Diego. Rousey, 17, beat Ellis and went on to defeat Grace Jividean in the finals to win the women's 63 kg. division.

Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY

AnnMaria Rousey playfully tries to throw daughter Ronda on May 1, 2004, the day after the 17-year-old won the Senior National Judo Championships. Ronda's mother AnnMaria won the U.S.'s first World Judo Championship in 1984.

Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY

Ronda Rousey (blue) and Germany's Annett Boehm compete in their women's -70kg judo bronze medal match of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on Aug. 13, 2008 in Beijing. Ronda Rousey won the bronze medal.

OLIVIER MORIN, AFP Via Getty Images

USA's Ronda Rousey (in blue) is all smiles after receiving her bronze medal in the 70kg Judo competition on Aug. 13, 2008 during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

Jeff Swinger, USA TODAY

Ronda Rousey enters the arena to start her fight against Sarah Kaufman (not pictured) during their Strikeforce MMA women's bantamweight title bout on Aug. 18, 2012 in San Diego.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images

Ronda Rousey dominates Sarah Kaufman during their Strikeforce MMA women's bantamweight title bout. Rousey won in 54 seconds of the first round.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images

Ronda Rousey pummels Liz Carmouche during their UFC women's world bantamweight championship bout in Anaheim, Calif. on Feb. 23, 2013.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images

Ronda Rousey plays ‘Luna’ in the 2014 action film "The Expendables 3."

Phil Bray, Lionsgate

Ronda Rousey plays herself in the 2015 film “Entourage” based on the HBO series with Jerry Ferrara as Turtle, Kevin Dillon as Johnny Drama, Kevin Connolly as Eric and Adrian Grenier as Vince.

Claudette Barius, Warner Bros. Pictures

Michelle Rodriguez goes mano a mano with Rousey in the 2015 action film "Furious 7."

Scott Garfield, Universal Pictures

Ronda Rousey celebrates her victory over Cat Zingano in their UFC women's bantamweight championship bout during the UFC 184 event at Staples Center on Feb. 28, 2015 in Los Angeles.

Harry How, Getty Images

Ronda Rousey appears on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on July 1, 2015 ahead of her UFC 190 bout against Bethe Correia in August in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Randy Holmes, ABC

Mixed Martial Arts fighter Ronda Rousey attends The 2015 ESPYS on July 15, 2015 in Los Angeles.

Jason Merritt, Getty Images

UFC Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey poses for photographers during the UFC 190 Rousey v Correia weigh-in on July 31, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Matthew Stockman, Getty Images

Ronda Rousey defeats Bethe Correia in their title fight on August 1, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro.

Matthew Stockman, Getty Images

Ronda Rousey wears a t-shirt featuring a photo of Muhammad Ali and Elvis at a media event on October 27, 2015 in Glendale, Calif. ahead of the Rousey vs. Holm bout

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Ronda Rousey competes against Holly Holm during UFC 193 on Nov, 15, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia.

Matt Roberts, Imagn Images

Holly Holm (R) lands a kick to the neck to knock out Ronda Rousey and win the UFC title fight in Melbourne on Nov. 15, 2015.

PAUL CROCK, AFP Via Getty Images

MMA fighter Ronda Rousey (R) appears on one of three 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition covers.

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Ronda Rousey faces off against Amanda Nunes of Brazil in their UFC women's bantamweight championship bout during the UFC 207 event on Dec. 30, 2016 in Las Vegas.

Christian Petersen, Getty Images

Amanda Nunes lands punches while Ronda Rousey is against the cage during UFC 207 on Dec. 30, 2016 in Las Vegas.

Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images

Ronda Rousey guest stars in 2017 on the NBC series “Blindspot” as Devon Penberthy, a tough prison inmate.

David Giesbrecht, Warner Brothers/NBC

Ronda Rousey attends WWE's First-Ever Emmy "For Your Consideration" Event at Saban Media Center on June 6, 2018 in North Hollywood, Calif.

Jon Kopaloff, Getty Images

Ronda Rousey poses onstage after becoming the first female inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on July 5, 2018 in Las Vegas.

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

Ronda Rousey during the WWE Royal Rumble on Jan 29, 2022 in St. Louis.

Joe Camporeale, Imagn Images

Ronda Rousey battles Charlotte Flair (blue attire) during the Smackdown Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania on April 2, 2022 in Arlington, Texas.

Joe Camporeale, Imagn Images

Ronda Rousey lifts Natalya battle during the Smackdown Women’s Championship match on July 2, 2022 in Las Vegas.

Joe Camporeale, Imagn Images

Ronda Rousey (R) and Liv Morgan battle for the Smackdown Women’s Championship during SummerSlam on July 30, 2022 in Nashville.

Joe Camporeale, Imagn Images

Ronda Rousey stands over Shotzi during Wrestlemania Night 2 on April 2, 2023 in Inglewood, Calif.

Joe Camporeale, Imagn Images

Ronda Rousey poses during the debut of her new graphic novel "Expecting The Unexpected" during 2024 Comic-Con International on July 25, 2024 in San Diego.

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano pose after the press conference for the Most Valuable Promotions MMA card on April 15, 2026 in New York City.

Ed Mulholland, Imagn Images

Ronda Rousey's rise from Olympic medalist to MMA superstar