UFC middleweight prospect Edmen Shahbazyan knew Ronda Rousey was a force of nature from the first time he saw her — a true once-in-a-lifetime combination of talent and personality whose impact on the sport cannot be undersold.
In less than two years, she went from making her professional debut to breaking down the gender walls that had previous kept women from competing in the UFC. And then she went supernova, rattling off a string of highlight reel finishes while crossing over into the mainstream, complete with film roles, ESPY Awards and a Wrestlemania appearance alongside The Rock.
Though it feels longer, Rousey’s entire professional career lasted just six years and 14 fights, but during that time, she stood as a magnetic figure at the center of the MMA world.