The budding star remains under contract to Strikeforce, but Rousey's performance in 2012 has convinced UFC president Dana White to add a women's division to the sport's flagship brand.

Rousey still has three fights on her Strikeforce contract, White told Yahoo! Sports on Tuesday, that she will fulfil that deal before she moves to the UFC. Sports Illustrated first reported that the UFC would add women.

"This isn't breaking news," White said. "I've been saying for months that this was absolutely going to happen. I don't know when it's going to be, because (Rousey) is under contract. We don't have the timing figured out yet. It could be a year, year-and-a-half, but I'm (in support of it). It's going to happen."


Rousey is expected to fight in January, though nothing has been announced. Two Strikeforce cards in a row have been canceled, leading to speculation about its future, though White declined to speak about it. White typically refuses to speak about Strikeforce to reporters.