NBA superstar Kobe Bryant says he reached out to Ronda Rousey after her UFC 193 title loss to Holly Holm.
After Ronda Rousey was knocked out by Holly Holm at UFC 193, the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion received lots of negative messages and criticism from fans and celebrities, including US Presidential candidate Donald Trump and singer Lady Gaga. With that being said, Rousey still received positive support from others, including NBA superstar Kobe Bryant.
“I sent her several messages, so yes, we have touched base,” Bryant told USA Today Sports‘ Mike Bohn. “That’s what it’s about. It’s not about how you win. A true champion is about how you lose and come back from that.”
Bryant, who plans on retiring after the current basketball season, says he can relate to Rousey, because he also has gone through a low point in his life and career.
“I told her, ‘It’s a beautiful thing.’ That’s what I told her. I said, ‘To be a true champion, sometimes you have to get knocked down.’ It happens to the best of us. It happened with my Achilles [when I tore it]. [Muhammad] Ali got put down several times — it happens to the best of us.
“I think the true mark of a champion is how you get up from that,” he said. “If she goes through her entire career undefeated, she becomes this mythical figure that nobody can relate to. She got beat. We all got beat at some point or another in our lives. Now it’s a matter of how she bounces back from that. I think that’s what makes her a true champion.”
Rousey has been focused on her acting career and other obligations for the most part since her first pro loss, but does plan on returning before the end of 2016, according to UFC President Dana White. Rousey was also recently seen training with her coach, Edmond Tarverdyan — possibly her first training session since her defeat.
In the meantime, Holm is set to defend her belt for the first time against Miesha Tate at UFC 196. Rousey vs. the winner of that matchup is targeted for November.