UFC: Rousey’s ex-boyfriend fears for her mental health prior to comeback
Ronda Rousey after tasting defeat for the first time in her career at UFC 193. (AP/Andy Brownbill)
Ronda Rousey has been away from the UFC limelight for over a year now, and his former boyfriend Brendan Schaub has expressed his concerns upon her impending comeback this weekend.
A former UFC fighter himself, Schaub fully understands the rigors of fighting professionally, and he does not believe that the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion is on her best mental state ahead of the highly anticipated fight with current titleholder Amanda Nunes.
“What scares me about Ronda, she went MIA, she blamed it on the media,” the former UFC heavyweight disclosed in a New York Post report. “Well, that same media turned you into who you are and her taking this time off, it’s a little scary,”
Ever since her shocking defeat at the hands of Holly Holm at UFC 193 last year, Rousey has refused to speak to the members of the press and even revealed that she had suicidal thoughts after the loss.
UFC president Dana White also confirmed that the 29-year-old former judoka will not attend any pre-fight press conferences prior to UFC 207 in Nevada.
READ: Rousey storms off stage after staredown with Nunes
Due to these bizarre circumstances, Schaub thinks Rousey’s head might still not be where it needs to be come fight time.
“She also said something like this is one of my last ones, and whenever a fighter even hints that this might be the last one, they’re one foot in, one foot out, or both feet out,” he said.
Despite his revelation, Schaub is still rooting for his former lover and believes she will reclaim her title as the poster girl for women’s MMA.
“My money is still on Ronda. That’s banking on her mental state being good. But from what I hear and with the time off, that’s up for debate, which is scary,” Schaub said.
“Style-wise this fight is a good one for Ronda to come back for as Nunes comes forward and Ronda can throw her around and submit her.” Khristian Ibarrola
