Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey, a name synonymous with groundbreaking strides in the world of combat sports, found her roots in judo. The first American woman to win an Olympic medal in judo, she secured bronze at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Upon her retirement from judo at 21, she transitioned to a mixed martial arts (MMA) career, marking her debut at "King of the Cage: Turning Point" in 2011. Known for her swift victories, Rousey often ended matches with armbar submissions within seconds. She trained with noteworthy figures such as Henry Akins, Ryron Gracie, Rener Gracie, and B.J. Penn, and under Romanian American coach Leo Frîncu.

In November 2012, Rousey became the first female fighter to sign with the UFC and subsequently became its inaugural Women's Bantamweight Champion. Her tenure was marked by multiple successful defenses of the title, earning her several Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night awards. Rousey's impactful presence in the UFC was cemented by her induction into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018. In addition to her combat sports career, Rousey has made appearances in films such as "The Expendables 3" (2014), "Furious 7" (2015), and "Mile 22" (2018). She also authored her autobiography, "My Fight / Your Fight," in 2015.

2018 marked the beginning of Rousey's WWE career, during which she won the Raw Women's Championship and the SmackDown Women's Championship, becoming a three-time women's world champion in WWE. She headlined Evolution, WWE's first all-women's pay-per-view event, and the first women's WrestleMania main event at WrestleMania 35. Rousey's influence extends beyond the ring and the octagon. She was voted the best female athlete of all time in a 2015 ESPN fan poll and has made significant public appearances, including hosting "Saturday Night Live" on January 20, 2016.