Still need tickets? Walk-In tickets are available at the door.
Athlete, Olympic Medalist, & Bestselling Author Ronda Rousey in Conversation with Kru Hope Vitellas of Short North Muay Thai
Sunday, April 7th at 6:30 PM ET AT the Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) Joseph V. Canzani Auditorium
You will have the opportunity to ask questions and meet/take a photo with Ronda after the event. Ticket-bundled signed books will be available for pick up at the event. Additional books will also be available for purchase at the event.
ABOUT
OUR FIGHT
From New York Times bestselling author and trailblazing athlete Ronda Rousey, an unfiltered chronicle of loss, resilience and finding meaning in life’s journey.
From the moment she burst onto the MMA scene, Ronda Rousey was unbeatable. She repeatedly strung together back-to-back flawless victories, racking up a collection of records and forever changing the face of sports as the UFC’s first female champion. A superstar in her sport, she transcended athletics, appearing in blockbuster films and becoming a role model for women everywhere. Then, on November 15, 2015, it all came crashing down.
In OUR FIGHT, Rousey explores the greatest challenge of her life and, ultimately, how she rebuilt her life into something better in the aftermath. She recounts how she replaced her pursuit of perfection with the pursuit of happiness and found an opportunity in disguise amongst the wreckage. Following Rousey’s relatable journey, OUR FIGHT is a courageous narrative of career changes, marriage, motherhood, and facing your fears.
AUTHOR RONDA ROUSEY
Ronda Rousey has completely transformed the world of martial arts, beginning with a historic bronze medal showing in judo in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and, most notably, a record-setting career as the UFC’s first and most dominant female fighter and Bantamweight Champion. She was the first woman inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, in 2018, the same year she exploded onto the WWE scene, catapulting the women's division towards its first WrestleMania main event in history. The self-proclaimed “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey, Baddest Woman on the Planet, returned to the WWE in January of 2022, four months after giving birth to her daughter, La’akea, to win the Royal Rumble. During her time in WWE, she held the Raw, SmackDown, and multiple Tag Team titles. Rousey is also a New York Times bestselling author, the most-followed female athlete on social media, and an actress who has appeared in both the Fast and the Furious and The Expendables franchises.
CO-AUTHOR MARIA BURNS ORTIZ
Maria Burns Ortiz is a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning sports journalist. Maria spent over a decade in sports media, including seven years as a writer and columnist for ESPN.com, and was the National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ Emerging Journalist of the Year. She is a teaching artist on the topic of memoir writing at The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, where she lives with her husband and three kids.
MODERATOR KRU HOPE VITELLAS
Kru Hope is the owner of Short North Muay Thai, one of Central Ohio’s most distinguished martial arts schools. Throughout the late nineties, Kru Hope entered and won 13 fights, and taught Muay Thai in New York City at Crunch Gym. In 2001, Hope competed at the world championships for the US Muay Thai team, and went on as one of only two women to fight in Thailand. The mission of Kru Hope’s school, Short North Muay Thai, is to bring out the very best in each student so they can realize their ultimate potential. To date, several of her students have won national titles. Her goal, her focus, and her training style are designed to develop mind, heart, and body—the essence of the Muay Thai Warrior Spirit.
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‣ Doors Open at CCAD’s Canzani Auditorium | 6:00 pm ET
Columbus College of Art & Design Canzani Auditorium (60 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH 43215)
All seats are first come, first served. Signed books will be available for pick up and purchase at the event.
‣ Main Event at CCAD’s Canzani Auditorium | 6:30-7:30 pm ET
Columbus College of Art & Design Canzani Auditorium (60 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH 43215)
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the program! You will have the opportunity to ask the author questions at the end of the event.
‣ Meet and Greet/Photo Op at CCAD’s Canzani Auditorium | 7:30 pm ET
Columbus College of Art & Design Canzani Auditorium (60 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH 43215)
All attendees will have the opportunity to meet and take a photo with Ronda Rousey after the event.
Note: selfies and selfie sticks are not permitted. Thurber House will take your photo on your personal cell phone. All books will be pre-signed; Ronda will not be signing any memorabilia or books during the meet and greet.
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‣ OPTION ONE: Main Event + Hardcover Book Bundle | $49
($19 ticket, $29 hardcover book, $1 Columbus ticket fee)
This ticket includes:
Admission to the main event
Admission to the post-event meet and greet/photo op
A signed hardcover copy of Ronda Rousey’s Our Fight (books will be available for pick up at the event)
‣ OPTION TWO: Main Event Only (Limited Availability) | $35
($33 ticket, $2 Columbus ticket fee)
This ticket includes:
Admission to the main event
Admission to the post-event meet and greet/photo op
Some walk-in tickets will be available at the event while supplies last. We strongly encourage you to register in advance.
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This event will be held at Columbus College of Art & Design’s (CCAD) Canzani Auditorium (60 Columbus Ave., Columbus, OH 43215).
Free parking is available in the campus lots closest to the Joseph V. Canzani Center. You do not need a parking pass. Click here for a campus map (the Canzani Center is #1 on the map).
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Selfie sticks are not permitted at this event.
We strongly encourage you to bring only a small bag.
Gifts for Ronda, although appreciated, are not permitted.
No memorabilia will be signed at the event.
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Thurber House strives to be a welcoming environment for everyone, and we ask that all attendees respect the health and safety of others at all times.
Masks are encouraged but not mandatory. If you are sick, please do not attend the event (you will have the opportunity to pick up any pre-purchased books in the weeks following the event).
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For any questions that are not answered here, please email Jess Cox at jcox@thurberhouse.org or call 614-412-5955.
‣ Who is presenting this event? This is a Thurber House event that is being held at the Columbus College of Art & Design’s Canzani Auditorium.
‣ How will I receive my tickets? You will receive an email order confirmation containing your ticket(s). You can print or show your ticket(s) on your phone. If you are unable to do so, we will manually check you in.
‣ Can I order tickets by phone? Yes, although online orders are encouraged. To order by phone, call 614-412-5955.
‣ How do I get the book that comes with my ticket bundle? Ticket-bundled signed books will be available for pick up when you arrive at the event. Additional books will be for sale at the event.
‣ How does the meet and greet/photo op work? You will have time to say a brief hello and take a photo with Ronda. No selfies or selfie sticks permitted—Thurber House will take your photo on your personal cell phone. All books will be pre-signed; Ronda will not be signing any memorabilia or books during the meet and greet.
‣ Where do I park? Click the “Location & Parking” tab above for more information.
‣ What’s your refund policy? All ticket sales are final and non-refundable.
‣ What is the Columbus Arts and Culture Fee? The total ticket price includes the Columbus Arts and Culture Fee as required by the City of Columbus. The Arts and Culture Fee provides public funds to support artists and arts/cultural organizations like Thurber House that educate and engage audiences of all ages. Click here for more information.
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Disclaimer: Views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by event and program speakers in all mediums are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Thurber House, its affiliates, or its staff/board.
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS:
PromoWest Productions / Scott Stienecker, CEO
MMAFighting.com / Damon Martin, Senior Reporter