Anderson Silva offers Ronda Rousey support following UFC 207 loss

Since suffering the second straight defeat of her professional career, several members of the MMA community have continued to offer Ronda Rousey support.

There were many questions regarding how Ronda Rousey‘s striking would look leading up to the fight after having taken a year off following her UFC 193 loss to Holly Holm in November of 2015, however when Rousey stepped into the Octagon with Amanda Nunes at UFC 207, it didn’t take long for Nunes to expose Rousey’s underdeveloped striking game.

In the wake of Rousey’s loss, former UFC pound for pound kingpin Anderson Silva has offered the former champ support. He spoke to MMAJunkie:

“I always dealt very well with defeat, because I’ve had defeats early in my career at a time I couldn’t lose,” Silva recently told the Brazilian TV show Combate News (translated by MMAjunkie). “If I lost, I couldn’t provide for my daughter and put money in the house. So losses are part of it.

“People need to understand that athletes train very hard to go up there. They train for four, five months. I, for one, at the time when I had the title for eight years, if during all those … years I was champion, if I spent … 10 days with my family, it’s a lot – because I was 100 percent dedicated to fighting and to giving it to my best, to bring some joy to the people. So when something like this happens, of people spray painting, criticizing, calling names, these people need to think about that. Because we’re there to do our jobs and show this work that’s not only ours, but also from a team that dedicated themselves for months.”

“After her first loss, I sent her a message,” Silva said. “Right then, I posted something on social media motivating her. I think regardless of what happened and what will happen in your life, you need to keep your head up because what you did will stay in history. Regardless of wins or losses, you need to care about what you see as the most important in your life.

“I hope 2017 is a year of many wins for you and new accomplishments, and that if you keep fighting, that you return well. The way I see it, personally and technically as a fighter, pick your opponents better when you return. Don’t fight someone who’s as active as the champ. I think it was the wrong strategy. I hope you come back. You’re a great athlete. God bless you.”

on 1/18/2017.