Inside Ronda Rousey's Marriage
The following article includes allegations of domestic violence.
On Aug. 28, 2017, UFC legend Ronda Rousey married MMA fighter Travis Browne, and the love fest shared on Instagram was palpable. "What an amazing day!! She is so perfect in every way! She makes me so happy! She is my other half!" Browne captioned a photo that was taken seconds after their nuptials. And as for Rousey and Browne's wedding day? It sounded like a blast. Before the big day, Rousey told "Live with Kelly and Ryan" that the event, which took place in Honolulu-born Browne's home state, was going to be "kinda like a backyard, Mexican Corona party — but, like, in Hawaii."
Rousey then shared the story of how Browne proposed under a waterfall in New Zealand, but was so nervous that he "just went down into bullet points" when the moment came. "So he pulls out the ring and I'm already like, 'Uh huh' before he even says anything. It's like, 'Okay, we're in New Zealand, we're under a waterfall, will you marry me?'" Rousey recalled to Kelly Ripa and guest cohost Jerry O'Connell. Hey, whatever works.
But before and after their wedding date, the couple's relationship has had its share of ups, downs, and tabloid fodder. So square up and let's take a look Inside Ronda Rousey's marriage.
Travis Browne was accused of domestic violence by ex-wife Jenna Renee Webb
On July 9, 2015, Travis Browne's estranged wife, Jenna Renee Webb, posted photos on Instagram that showed bruises that she later claimed were caused by Browne (via MMA Mania). "Probably one of the hardest decisions I've ever made was walking away from this life and starting over. I'm still ashamed for staying as long as I did," she wrote. When asked about the allegations, Browne's manager John Fosco said they would be "disputed 1 million percent" (via MMA Mania).
Two months later, the UFC completed a seven-week investigation conducted by a former FBI agent that "found inconclusive evidence to support claims of alleged domestic violence" and Browne's suspension was lifted. Webb never reported the alleged incident to the police. A year later, an emotional Browne broke down in tears when discussing the allegations and the media's coverage of them. "Honestly, I feel a little betrayed," he told MMA Fighting. "If those are your reasons for lying, but then you don't press charges, you don't try to do things the right way."
All this was taking place while whispers were flying that Browne and Rousey were in a relationship. Webb seemingly confirmed those rumors in a tweet that read, "I expected more from her. She should be ashamed of herself." She added, "It's only a matter of time that she sees his true colors" (via the New York Post).
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
Ronda Rousey and Travis Browne waited to confirm things
On Oct. 12, 2015, Travis Browne put the rumors to rest. During an appearance on the MMA Fighting podcast, Browne laid it out plain and simple. "Dating is for children," Browne said. "Dating is for kids. Over the summer, through all the sh*t that I had to shuffle through, that I had to sift through, Ronda and I started talking throughout the summer and I'll say now that we are together. She's my woman and I'm her man. There's no boyfriend, girlfriend stuff. There's no dating. We're together."
He went on to call her "compassionate" and a "sweetheart" that he wants to "support" in everything she chooses to do. That same day, Rousey released a statement to ESPN confirming that she was indeed dating Browne. "I don't talk about my personal life much. That's why it's called 'personal life,'" she said. "It's true that Travis and I are in a relationship. I've really enjoyed the time we have spent together and getting to know one another. And that's all I'm going to say about it."
Ronda Rousey addressed the domestic violence accusations
During an emotional 2015 interview with ESPN after her shocking loss to Holly Holm, a bruised and battered Ronda Rousey explained why she would be in a relationship with a man who was accused of domestic violence. "It's hard, it's really hard. I'm very anti-domestic violence," she said. "But I know that he didn't do anything. Now I'm put in this situation where I'm finally happy with somebody that respects me and cares about me, and I'm like, 'What do I do?'"
Rousey went on to say that Travis Browne is a calming influence on her and she can't spend any time worrying about public opinion. "Even when everyone thinks the world of me, I still go to bed anxious and freaking out because I'm afraid of everything," she continued. "The only time I've gotten a reprieve from that [feeling] in my life is since I've been with him."
Rousey's decision to date Browne was perplexing to some in the media, because earlier in the year, she said in her book "My Fight, Your Fight" that she physically defended herself from an unnamed ex-boyfriend who attempted to block her from leaving their apartment after she allegedly caught him taking nude photos of her (via the Washington Post). "I punched him in the face with a straight right, then a left hook. He staggered back and fell against the door," she said.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
Travis Browne says life is 'better than it's ever been'
In the summer of 2017, Travis Browne was coming off a three-fight losing streak and was looking to bounce back against Oleksiy Oliynyk during UFC 213. A week before the match, Browne credited Ronda Rousey for bringing stability and support into his life that he hoped would translate into the octagon.
"My personal life is better than it's ever been," he said (via the Las Vegas Review-Journal). "Being with someone who understands the game and is there to support you in a way that you need in your career and someone who gives you the energy to keep going and is there to really, truly support you as a partner in life, instead of with a person that draws that energy out of you, has been amazing." Browne admitted that he was "pretty low" in his career, but Rousey's support "made all the difference in the world."
A week later, Browne lost to Oliynyk after tapping out at 3:44 in the second round.
Ronda Rousey and Travis Browne's home was burglarized
Ronda Rousey stopped by "Live with Kelly & Ryan" in 2017, and while discussing how Travis Browne proposed to her in New Zealand, the UFC legend revealed that their home was burglarized before their trip. "Someone had been squatting in my house for like three days, sleeping in my bed, stole my Olympic rings, stole my guns, stole all my precious jewelry, every headphone in the house, credit cards," she explained.
Unfortunately for the wannabe criminal masterminds, the house was outfitted with a lot of security cameras. "We saw that they were a bunch of kids with skateboards, and there's a famous skate park right across the street cause we're in Venice," Rousey said. The burglars would be smart enough to hand out at the skate park for a while, right? Well, no. "So my man's 6'7" like 260. He like beelines it straight to the skateboard park, finds the guys right away," she recalled.
Rousey said Browne handled the situation like a responsible citizen. "He's smart enough not to, you know, [hitting motion]," she said. "We'll get sued pretty hard, but he found the police right then and they caught them." She added, "They knew it was my house. There's no way you can't not know it's my house. What little punks."
Ronda Rousey says Travis Browne is 'suspiciously perfect'
During an appearance on "Live with Kelly and Ryan" in 2018, Rousey called her upcoming one-year wedding anniversary with Travis Browne the "best year of my life." Co-host Ryan Seacrest then revealed a conversation he had with her producer who said that Rousey thinks Browne is "suspiciously perfect." When asked what she meant by that, Rousey was more than willing to answer.
"Suspiciously perfect means he does things that I don't think a real human actually does it. Like, I was filming Mile 22 in Bogata, and he flew all the way down to come and visit me," she said. "And he shows up and he was like, 'You didn't say anything about it, but I thought you would forget, and I brought you a box of tampons.'" She then revealed that she called Browne earlier that week and he informed her that he purchased her some cast iron pans, because, 'I know how much you love your cast iron pans.'" He even seasoned them for her because he understood she was too busy to do it herself. She added, "It's suspicious, who are you?" Buying tampons and seasoning pans? That's love, baby.
Browne seconded that emotion with an Instagram photo of the pair on their wedding day. "She is absolutely perfect!!" he captioned the sweet photo.
Ronda Rousey is married to her own hype man
When Ronda Rousey left UFC to sign a full-time contract with World Wrestling Entertainment in 2018, Travis Browne was her ultimate cheerleader. "She's the biggest name in WWE right now," Browne told TMZ Sports. "It's definitely a new chapter in her life, you know? And this is one of the first times I've seen her truly enjoy the ride. So, she's not super stressed. With all the stress that fighting brings, you're working up to this moment and you can't wait for that moment to be over so that you can celebrate. [Whereas] right now, it's like full celebration mode all the time."
Browne added that his wife was "having a blast" and revealed that everyone at WWE was "very accepting and welcoming" to Rousey and to him. "At the end of the day, to those guys, I'm just Ronda Rousey's husband. And they've been so nice to me and to her, too," he continued. "And they want nothing but the best for her, and you can see in the way they work with her and interact with her. If she needs help with something, she has multiple people she can go to in the WWE."
Ronda Rousey isn't afraid of a little TMI
For the majority of 2020, couples around the world found themselves quarantined together due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People made a lot of bread. Remember that? The time couples spent together caused a spike in divorces and break-ups, but it also caused, well, other things. In the spirit of that, Travis Browne posed a question on Twitter to all the husbands out there.
"How many husbands have taken this #quarantineandchill time to impress in the kitchen?!?!," he tweeted, adding a hashtag that alluded to a certain sexual act that would be his reward for impressing with cooking skills. Rousey replied, letting her husband know that his choice of dish wasn't all that impressive nor was it conducive for that certain sexual act. "Ha! Love you but It's gunna take more than a few tacos and a bowl a guacamole babe [taco emoji ≠ peach emoji] besides you don't wanna be back there after all that hot sauce," she shot back.
This is some Hall of Fame level TMI here, folks.
Ronda Rousey beat up Travis Browne on 9-1-1
Ronda Rousey joined the third season of Fox's hit drama "9-1-1" in 2019 playing "Lena Bosko, a stoic and fearless member of the Los Angeles Fire Department Station 136 who leaps into action to save lives when a disaster hits," according to Deadline. You'll be shocked to learn this, but Rousey's character is also good at duking it out. In the fifth episode, Lena takes fellow first-responder Edmundo "Eddie" Diaz to an underground fight club so he can work out some of his aggression. But before Diaz can step in the ring, Rousey's character jumps in to fight first.
Her opponent? None other than her husband, Travis Browne (above) in an uncredited role. The couple's fight scene didn't last long, and naturally, Lena won. "Ronda's character easily ducked a few punches before hitting him with a flying knee," TMZ reported. "She followed up with a superman punch, slammed his head against a truck, hit him with a judo throw and then obliterated his face with some elbow strikes from the top position."
Ronda Rousey and Travis Browne enjoy the farm life
Ronda Rousey and Travis Browne are living the farm life on their ranch called Browsey Acres. Like Browne plus Rousey — get it? "What started as just 2.4 acres in California that Ronda Rousey, Travis Browne, and their beloved crew of animals have lived on since 2017 is now an experience that you can also become a part of," the farm's website reads. "The Browsey Acres mentality is simple: By purchasing our Fullblood Wagyu meat, you are making the life-changing decision."
The couple are down with that environment-friendly lifestyle. "Our sustainability story began long before Browsey Acres was even an idea. From using water catchment systems on our driveway to the Tesla tiles on our roof, we have tried our best to live as sustainably as possible," the site continues. "Currently, we live about 80% off grid and it's not as hard as you might think. Browsey Acres is a huge responsibility, but living a sustainable lifestyle started with little tweaks here and there."
Browsey Acres has its own Instagram page and YouTube channel where the couple give updates and share videos about life on the ranch. If that's your thing, check them out.
Their farm helped them avoid 'coronavirus panic buys'
In a video posted to her Instagram on March 12, 2020, Ronda Rousey said that she and Travis Browne didn't need to do "coronavirus panic buys" due to their self-sustainable lifestyle. "Our coronavirus panic shopping list is: Nonexistent. It's no secret I've been a proud preppier for years- but let's all learn from this pandemic panic and be a little more self sufficient and prepared in the future. Taking steps to live sustainably takes time but ultimately saves money, permanently eliminates water and power bills, reduces our carbon footprint, and is just plain healthier," she captioned the video.
She then took fans on a tour of their well-stocked ranch that includes fresh fruits and vegetables, chickens, organic eggs, huge stores of clean water, Tesla tiles for power, and a deep freezer filled to the brim with meat. She then encouraged fans to start the same lifestyle by starting small.
"We started [Browsey Acres] with just a compost bin and a few boxes of @soylent, which then became just a small herb garden, then a full garden (admittedly still under construction) then a few chickens, then a few more chickens (and ducks!), then a whole steer, then a solar roof, then a water catchment system. Start small! Just start! Let's stop panicking and start preparing! Stay safe out there and #StayRowdyMyFriends!" Rousey continued in the caption.
Ronda Rousey loves being a stepmom
Travis Browne has two sons from a previous relationship, and it seems Ronda Rousey wasted no time forming a bond with the two lads. When Rousey made her debut appearance on WWE, Browne shared a reaction video on Instagram he took with his kids. "So hard not telling these boys what was going on," Browne wrote. "I absolutely love seeing that smile on your face. Your boys are very proud of you." Rousey shared the same video with the caption, "My favorite part of tonight – surprising my boys." Awww.
Being around the boys probably gave Rousey the classic baby fever, and in 2019, the UFC legend told People that she and Browne "want to start trying to have a baby, but we don't want to put any kind of crazy pressure on ourselves either." She added, "But we're also trying not to stress out about it and really enjoy the last of the time that's just to be me, [Travis] and the boys."
Rousey said the couple weren't "taking ovulation tests and trying to hit the [fertile] days every month," but were letting things happen the old-fashioned way since she was no longer "traveling 200 days a year and taking sit-out Powerbombs every night." She added, "We want to be able to put it out there, in the universe, that we want to start having our family."
Ronda Rousey and Travis Browne's family will soon grow
During a Jan. 2019 interview with ESPN, Ronda Rousey again stressed her desire to have kids with Travis Browne. "I've not kept it a secret that I would definitely want to start a family, but how do you go about doing that? I love this way more than I thought that I would. So do you just keep going until you just happen to get pregnant?" She added, "It would be kind of cool to just keep acting and then one day, 'Hey, surprise twist, I'm pregnant.' That would be fun."
Two months later, the couple decided it was now or never, and Rousey shared a photo of her and the hubby kissing with a simple caption: "#impregnationvacation." Spoiler alert: it worked. On April 21, 2020, Rousey and Browne announced on her YouTube channel that she's expecting their first child.
"I've been pregnant since January, so four months, woo, baby bump!" she said. "I can't hide it anymore so it's time to show it off." She added, "Thank you everybody for all the well wishes and all the positivity to get to this point. And yeah, we're really excited for you all to meet [the baby] like we are. ... Baddest baby on the planet, coming to you soon, Sept. 22."