Mixed martial arts has long been a popular avenue for Olympic medalist to continue their competitive careers, with wrestlers, boxers and judo players all making the transition over the last 25 years.
Ronda Rousey serves as one of the best-known examples, as she captured bronze in judo at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing before turning her attention to MMA. She won her first 12 fights, all of them finishes, and laid claim to titles in Strikeforce and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In the process, Rousey became one of the sport’s most bankable stars and a trailblazer for women in what had once been a male-dominated pursuit.