RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 01: Ronda Rousey of the United States celebrates her knock out victory over Bethe Correia of Brazil in the first round in their UFC women's bantamweight championship bout during the UFC 190 event inside HSBC Arena on August 1, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
When Ronda Rousey was leaving the UFC 190 weigh-ins on Friday she was informed of some news that immediately rocked her world.
'Rowdy' Roddy Piper had died.
Rousey was close with Piper over the years after he bestowed his nickname upon her when she was making the transition from Olympic Judo athlete to mixed martial artist.
The news of his death at just 61 years of age was shocking, but it gave Rousey even more motivation to go out and dispatch Bethe Correia in her fight Saturday night.
Rousey said following her 34 second knockout over Correia that she actually had the chance to spend a few hours with Piper before traveling to Brazil for the fight.
Talking with Piper was always special but with him gone, it makes that last conversation mean that much more to the UFC women's bantamweight champion.
"We found out last night on the way back from the weigh-ins. I actually got a chance to sit down and talk to him for a couple of hours before this fight. I didn't have time for anything and I was like 'I have to go see Roddy, I have to go to Piper's pit' and we talked for hours," Rousey revealed.
"I even told him, I promised him I'm going to do the name proud, I'm going to beat this chick. I told him that and I hope him and my dad had a good time watching it together."
Following her win, Rousey also dedicated the fight to Piper's memory while she was still in the Octagon. It's a moment she will likely never forget and Piper's family can certainly embrace considering how much they meant to each other over the years.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.