Early Life and Education of Ronda Rousey: A Complete Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Ronda Rousey, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Ronda Rousey is an American professional wrestler, actress, and former mixed martial artist and judoka. She gained prominence through her career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she was a dominant champion, and later transitioned to professional wrestling, becoming a notable figure in WWE. Her achievements in both sports have made her a well-known celebrity.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1978: Cathy Davis Cover in The Ring

In 1978, Cathy Davis appeared on the cover of The Ring magazine, being the first woman to achieve this honor.

1984: Mother's World Judo Championship Win

In 1984, Ronda Rousey's mother, AnnMaria De Mars (then AnnMaria Burns), became the first American to win a World Judo Championship.

February 1, 1987: Ronda Rousey's Birth

On February 1, 1987, Ronda Jean Rousey was born. She is the youngest of AnnMaria De Mars and Ronald John Rousey's three daughters.

1989: Release of the original Road House

In 1989, the original Road House movie was released, starring Patrick Swayze.

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2002: Began Training at Hayastan MMA Academy

Around 2002, Ronda Rousey began training at Hayastan MMA Academy in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, under Gokor Chivichyan, training alongside future MMA fighters.

2004: Teammates Predicted MMA Success

Back in 2004, Ronda Rousey's judo teammates believed she would excel in MMA but were concerned about her face getting hit.

2005: Continued Training at Hayastan MMA Academy

Until 2005, Ronda Rousey continued her judo training at Hayastan MMA Academy, often facing frustration and challenges while training with larger male partners.

2008: Post-Olympics MMA Interest

After the 2008 Olympics, Ronda Rousey decided to start MMA through Team Hayastan.

2008: Transition to Veganism

Ronda Rousey became a vegan after the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

2011: Jiu Jitsu Training

From 2011, Ronda Rousey trained in Jiu Jitsu at Dynamix MMA with Henry Akins.

2012: Receiving "Rowdy" Nickname Approval

Around 2012, Ronda Rousey met "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and received his approval to use the "Rowdy" nickname.

2012: Nude Appearance in ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue

In 2012, Ronda Rousey appeared nude on the cover of ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue, along with a pictorial inside the magazine.

2012: Diet Description

In 2012, Ronda Rousey described her diet as "kind of a mix between a Paleo and a Warrior diet."

January 2013: Sandy Hook Conspiracy Theory Controversy

In January 2013, Ronda Rousey faced criticism after posting a video on her Twitter page promoting a conspiracy theory about the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. She later deleted the video, and her manager issued a public apology.

May 2013: Maxim Hot 100 Ranking

In May 2013, Ronda Rousey was ranked 29 on the Maxim Hot 100 list.

September 2013: Maxim Cover Appearance

In September 2013, Ronda Rousey was featured on the cover and in a pictorial of Maxim magazine.

2013: Receiving "Rowdy" Nickname Approval

Around 2013, Ronda Rousey met "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and received his approval to use the "Rowdy" nickname.

2014: Co-starring role in The Expendables 3

In 2014, Ronda Rousey co-starred in The Expendables 3, marking her first major motion picture role.

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2014: Continued Jiu Jitsu Training

Until 2014, Ronda Rousey continued training in Jiu Jitsu at Dynamix MMA with Henry Akins.

April 2015: Visit to Armenian Genocide Memorial

In April 2015, Ronda Rousey visited Yerevan, Armenia, for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. She visited the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide memorial.

July 2015: Travis Browne Domestic Violence Allegations

In July 2015, Travis Browne was under investigation by the UFC after his estranged wife, Jenna Renee Webb, publicly accused him of domestic violence.

August 2015: Rumored Relationship with Travis Browne

In August 2015, Ronda Rousey was rumored to be in a relationship with UFC fighter Travis Browne, who had defeated Brendan Schaub the previous year. The rumors surfaced after a picture of them appeared on Twitter, and Browne's estranged wife accused them of seeing each other while Browne was still married and under investigation for domestic violence allegations.

October 2015: Confirmation of Relationship with Travis Browne

In October 2015, Travis Browne confirmed that he and Ronda Rousey were in a relationship. The next day, Rousey also confirmed their relationship.

December 9, 2015: Medical Clearance

On December 9, 2015, Ronda Rousey was medically cleared by UFC following her suspension.

2015: Appearances in Furious 7 and Entourage

In 2015, Ronda Rousey appeared in the film Furious 7 and played herself in the film Entourage.

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2015: Australian Men's Fitness Cover

In 2015, Ronda Rousey became the first woman featured on the cover of the November edition of Australian Men's Fitness magazine.

2015: Fundraising for Black Jaguar-White Tiger Foundation

In 2015, Ronda Rousey raised money by auctioning signed T-shirts for the Black Jaguar-White Tiger Foundation.

2015: Best Female Athlete and Autobiography

In 2015, Ronda Rousey was voted the best female athlete of all time in an ESPN fan poll. She also published her autobiography, "My Fight / Your Fight" in 2015.

My Fight / Your Fight

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January 2016: The Ring Magazine Cover

In January 2016, Ronda Rousey appeared on the cover of The Ring magazine, marking her as the first mixed martial artist and the second woman, after Cathy Davis in 1978, to achieve this honor.

February 2016: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Cover

In February 2016, Ronda Rousey was featured in body paint as one of three cover athletes for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

February 16, 2016: The Ellen DeGeneres Show Appearance

On February 16, 2016, Ronda Rousey appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and revealed that she considered suicide after her loss to Holly Holm.

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2016: Endorsement of Bernie Sanders' Presidential Campaign

In 2016, Ronda Rousey endorsed Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign in the United States presidential election.

2016: Retired from MMA

In 2016, Ronda Rousey retired from Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

April 20, 2017: Engagement to Travis Browne

On April 20, 2017, Ronda Rousey and Travis Browne got engaged in New Zealand.

August 28, 2017: Marriage to Travis Browne

On August 28, 2017, Ronda Rousey and Travis Browne were married in Browne's home state of Hawaii.

April 21, 2021: Pregnancy Announcement

On April 21, 2021, Ronda Rousey announced on her official YouTube channel that she was four months pregnant with her first child.

September 27, 2021: Birth of First Child

On September 27, 2021, Ronda Rousey gave birth to her first child, a girl named La’akea Makalapuaokalanipō Browne.

October 26, 2023: Rousey Comes Out of Retirement at Lucha VaVoom

On October 26, 2023, Ronda Rousey ended her brief retirement by teaming up with Marina Shafir at a Lucha VaVoom event, where they were victorious against her trainer Brian Kendrick and Taya Valkyrie.