Ronda Rousey Pays Respect to "Rowdy" Roddy Piper

UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey pays respect to “Rowdy” Roddy Piper following her victory at “UFC 190” on Aug. 1. As previously reported, Rousey had dedicated the bout to the late WWE Hall of Famer after learning of his death on July 31.

Piper passed away in his sleep due to a cardiac arrest in his home on the evening of July 30. “Hot Rod” was 61 years old.

Rousey took to Instagram to dedicate her “UFC 190” bout with No. 5 ranked Bethe Correia shortly after hearing that Piper had passed away. When the fight began on Aug. 1, Rousey surely fought with “Hot Rod” in mind, as she knocked out Correia in just 34 seconds.

After the bout was over and Rousey was declared the winner, her first words during the post-fight interview were said in honor of Piper and her late father. She said,

“We lost a really close friend, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, who gave me permission to use his name as a fighter.

I hope he and my dad had a good time watching this today.”

Rousey’s father committed suicide as a child, which was something that Correia seemingly teased Rousey about leading up to “UFC 190.” Correia had previously said that she hoped Rousey, “wouldn’t kill herself,” after she defeated her for the title.

The UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion appeared in a segment with The Rock and The Authority at WrestleMania 31. Following her appearance at the event, Piper and Rousey discussed whether or not she would want to work with WWE again in the future on his podcast, where Rousey said she would.

WWE has also expressed their desire to have Rousey work with them in the future, although UFC President Dana White claims that she will not be allowed to while working for UFC.

Rousey’s comments can be heard in the video below beginning at the 1:02 mark.