Ronda Rousey: ‘I Don’t Want To Fight Into My 30s,’ Says Her Career Feels Incomplete

All mixed martial arts fighters know there’s an expiration date on their career, and Ronda Rousey seems to know when hers is.

The UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion appeared on this week’s edition of the Joe Rogan Experience, where she spoke to host and UFC color commentator Joe Rogan for over two hours about her UFC career and history in the sport.

Rousey dropped a bombshell, as she seemingly put a time limit on her mixed martial arts career. The 28-year old Rousey said that she didn’t want to be competing in the cage into her 30s, specifically 31.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL2ampi5uqs

“I don’t want to be fighting in my 30s,” Rousey said. “By 30s, I mean 31, 32. If you’re actually 30 years old, that’s not 30s, that’s 30. Once you add into 31, that’s 30s, plural.”

Rousey turns 29 in February 2016, which could stretch her UFC career into early 2018. At the pace in which Rousey fights, usually two or three times per year, she could end up having five to seven more fights before hanging up the gloves.

Rousey has a leg up on many other UFC fighters in that she’s already wealthy, is a household name, and will likely have a career outside of the UFC barring unfavorable scandals. Rousey has also appeared in numerous major film projects, including Furious 7, Entourage, and The Expendables 3.

Despite her total domination, Rousey said that she doesn’t feel as if her career is finished.

“It seems unfinished, my career,” she said. “There’s more left to do. I don’t feel like I’m done yet. With the Olympics, you win an Olympic gold medal and you’re done. With the UFC, when am I done?”

One of the major hurdles Rousey looks to face is that of longtime rival Cris “Cyborg” Justino. Justino, who is the Invicta FC Featherweight Champion, has stated since February 2014 that she has plans on moving to 135 pounds. Thus far, this hasn’t happened, and fans have been left to debate and wonder.

“If she never steps up, I’ll know,” Rousey said. “I’ll probably go on a little longer waiting for her (to make weight) see if she shows up sooner rather than later. I don’t know how much longer I’d go.”

Rousey said that if Cris Cyborg were to cease her use of performance-enhancing drugs, Cyborg would be able to make weight.

“When you look at these people from when they were using and after, they look entirely different,” Rousey said. “Cyborg looks and weighs exactly the same. If she gets off, it will be very easy for her to make the weight.”

It’s worth noting that Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp has stated that Cris Cyborg undergoes the same drug testing that all UFC contracted athletes do.

Rousey also made headlines this week when she accepted a date proposal from a North Carolina-based Marine for his Marine Corp ball.

[Image via Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Sport]