Ronda Rousey Announces Early Retirement From UFC To Pursue Acting Career?

It looks like the countdown has started to the end of Ronday Rousey's career in the UFC.

The former women's bantamweight champion said that her return to the Octagon at UFC 2017 will be one of her final fights of her career. The 29-year-old revealed to Ellen DeGeneres that she will retire soon. When asked how much longer she plans to continue fighting, she said, "Not that long, I'm wrapping it up. This is definitely one of my last fights", adding, "The show isn't going to be around forever."

Current UFC president Dana White has also confirmed the news. "Listen, I don't want to take the wind out of her sail, let her say her own stuff, obviously I know what's going on with her, but yeah it's winding down for Ronda. That's up to her to say (on how many fights she has left). I don't want to steal her thunder. It's her career but she'll have enough for us to still enjoy watching her."

According to Fox Sports, White added that Rousey has other passions to pursue aside from fighting. It can be noted that she is starting a career in acting with roles in films such as "The Expendables 3", "Entourage" and "Furious 7" over the past couple of years.

Because of her love for acting, Rousey was actually expected to film at least two different movies during her hiatus from the UFC, but none materialized.

Meanwhile, after UFC 207 that will happen on December 30, Rousey will have been out of the Octagon for more than 13 months following her loss against Holly Holm. Her return fight will be against Amanda Nunes for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship, the same title Rousey lost to Holm. The highly anticipated match will take place in Las Vegas, according to Complex.

If Rousey successfully beats Nunes, UFC president Dana White hinted that she may finally fight Cris Cyborg, who has probably called her out for a number of times.