Female Fighter Profile: Ronda Rousey

Ronda "Rowdy" Rousey is a 24 year old American Olympic judoka and professional MMA fighter. Currently 3-0, Rousey competes for Strikeforce in the Women's 145 lb. division. Ronda is afraid of nothing and never bites her tongue while antagonizing opponents and throwing her way to victory.

"Rowdy" began her combat career at 17 qualifying as the youngest judo player in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. After amassing many medals on the Junior World Circuit, Rousey won silver at the 2007 Judo Championships and gold at the 2007 Pan Am Games. In 2008, she won bronze at the Olympic games in China. Ronda was the first American to win an Olympic medal in women's Judo since its inclusion in the games in 1992.

The vegan from California won three amateur bouts before turning pro and amassing the same record but in a mere 1:44 total! Most recently, the Nutella lover defeated Sarah D'Alelio via Armbar submission at Strikeforce Challengers 18. Ronda currently trains with Team Hayastan under Gokor Chivichyan, Leo Frincu, Gene Lebell, and Edmond Taverdyan, along with Team Hayastan fighters such as Manny Gamburyan, Karen Darabedyan, Sako Chivitchian, Roman Mitichyan, and Sevak Magakian.

Rousey also teaches judo in Santa Monica at Dynamix MMA along with Gracie BJJ Black Belt, Henry Akins, and former Dutch Kickboxer and UFC heavyweight Antoni Hardonk. Her 2nd job is as a veterinary assistant at California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE).

Ronda has expressed her "different" approach to MMA on Ariel Helwani's MMA Hour show saying, "My goal is not the be the most liked girl in women's MMA, I want to be the most talked about girl in women's MMA. If there's a lot of controversy, people saying I suck, I'm cocky, or it was a good fight or an amazing move -- as long as there's polarizing opinions and people want to discuss it."

The blonde beauty is super talented, hungry, and climbing the Women's rankings fast! With the talent pool a little light in the ladies division, it would not be shocking to see Rousey face new Strikeforce Champion Miesha Tate or even the returning Gina Carano in 2012. Expect good things and a lot of controversial sound bytes.

Accomplishments:

2010:
Gold - USA Judo Senior National Championships

2008:
Gold - U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Judo
Gold - USA Judo Senior National Championships
Gold - Budapest World Cup
Bronze - Olympic Games
Bronze - Belgian Ladies' Open
5th - Pan American Championships
9th - Paris Super World Cup

2007:
Gold - British Open (63kg)
Gold - Vienna World Cup
Gold - Pan American Games
Gold - USA Judo Senior National Championships
Gold - U.S. Open
Gold - Rendez-Vous Canada
Silver - World Championships
Bronze - Pan American Championships
Bronze - German Open

2006:
Gold - Swedish Open (63kg)
Gold - U.S. Open (63kg)
Gold - Rendez-Vous Canada (63kg)
Gold - USA Judo Senior National Championships (63kg)
Gold - Birmingham World Cup (63kg)
Gold - Belgian Ladies Open (63kg)
Gold - Junior Pan American Championships (63kg)
Silver - Pan American Championships (63kg)
Bronze - Junior World Championships (63kg)
Bronze - Finnish Open (63kg)

2005:
Gold - U.S. Open (63kg)
Gold - Rendez Vous Canada (63kg)
Gold - USA Judo Senior National Championships (63kg)
Gold - Pan American Championships (63kg)
5th Place - Leonding World Cup (63kg)
9th - Hamburg Super World Cup (63kg)

2004:
Gold - Ontario Open (63kg)
Gold - Junior World Championships (63kg)
Gold - Pan American Championships (63kg)
Gold - Junior Pan American Championships (63kg)
Gold - USA Judo Senior National Championships (63kg)
Gold - Titan Games (63kg)
Gold - USA Judo High School National Championships (63kg)
Bronze - U.S. Open (63kg)
Bronze - Rendez Vous Canada (63kg)
9th - Olympic Games (63kg)

2003:
Gold - Fall Classic National Championships (63kg)
Gold - Rendez Vous Canada (63kg)
Silver - U.S. Open (63kg)
5th - Korean Open (63kg)