Ronda Rousey has already been called the best women’s fighter in the world, and now she could soon have another title to add — UFC champion.
The Stikeforce bantamweight champion is reportedly joining the UFC, defending here title there in 2013. As TMZ reports, by joining UFC, Ronda Rousey will automatically become the 135 lb women’s champion.
Ronda Rousey burst onto the women’s fighting world since her debut as a pro in May 2011, Yahoo! Sports noted . She has won six straight bouts, all by first-round submissions, and has eclipsed the popularity of many of her male counterparts.
The 25-year-old Rousey is in fact so dominant that none of her opponents have yet to put a scare into her. Rousey has used her signature arm bar to force all into submissions.
Rousey’s popularity reached a zenith when the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in judo was featured on the cover of ESPN the Magazine ‘s “Body Issue.”
UFC officials haven’t named an opponent for Ronda Rousey yet, but Yahoo! Sports speculates that it could be a rematch with Miesha Tate or a bout with Christane “Cyborg” Santos.
As Ronda Rousey leaves Strikeforce, the promotion itself is set to go away. A January 12 show will be the last for Strikeforce, with all male champions defending their belts at the promotion’s final show.
As TMZ noted, Ronda Rousey’s entrance into UFC is quite a turnaround for the league. Just last year, president Dana White said that women would “never” fight in UFC, but after Rousey’s rise to fame and the draw she could bring, that has changed quickly. White now concedes that a UFC women’s division is definitely happening.