It’s official. Ronda Rousey is now the former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion as she becomes the first female fighter to sign with the UFC.
“Yes, it’s official,” White said partially laughing Friday on The Jim Rome Show. “Ronda Rousey did sign with the UFC.”
“She has the whole package,” he continued. “I’ve never been interested in women’s MMA. First there weren’t enough girls to create an entire women’s division. When I talk about a superstar or standout, people talk about Gina Carano and talk about all these others. I’m telling you: this girl, she’s nasty. She might be beautiful on the outside, she’s a Diaz brother on the inside. She’s a real fighter and she’s very talented. She has the credentials, the pedigree, everything. And she has the ‘it’ factor. I think she’s going to be a big superstar.”
For her part, Rousey confirmed the signing through her Twitter account on Friday as well. “Okay, I admit it. I’m officially a UFC fighter! SO excited! Can’t wait to debut,” she wrote.
Terms of the deal were not immediately available. There was also no timeline offered on her UFC debut or a first opponent named. It is also not clear whether Rousey will automatically become the UFC women’s bantamweight champion.
Rousey, 25, is 6-0 in professional MMA, four of those wins coming inside the Strikeforce cage. All of her victories come via first-round armbar. She holds notable wins over Miesha Tate and Sarah Kaufman.
Rousey is the fist U.S. woman to earn an Olympic medal in judo. She took the bronze medal at 70kg at the 2008 Beijing Olympic games.