UFC: Ronda Rousey leaves UFC behind

Ronda Rousey has signed a full-time contract with the WWE. Photo / Getty Images.

Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey hadn't stepped foot in the octagon since 2016 and after an appearance at WWE's Wrestlemania in early 2015, questions flew around where her career was headed.

They were put to rest on Monday (NZ time) as Rousey seemingly announced her arrival in the WWE after the women's Royal Rumble match.

ESPN reported Rousey had officially signed a full-time contract with the WWE, but there was no word on when her in-ring debut would be.

Breaking: UFC's Ronda Rousey has signed a full-time contract with WWE, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.

Posted by SportsCenter on Sunday, January 28, 2018

However, with a t-shirt design inspired by close friend and namesake Rowdy Roddy Piper, Rousey stormed to the ring and stared down the two wone's champions before pointing toward the Wrestlemania sign, perhaps indicating where she'll make her official debut.

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The jacket Ronda Rousey is wearing at the @WWE Royal Rumble was Rowdy Roddy Piper's jacket. His son gave it to her beforehand.

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) January 29, 2018

"This is my life now," Rousey told ESPN. "First priority on my timeline for the next several years. This is not a smash-and-grab; this is not a publicity stunt."

"When I first met with Triple H, I told him, 'There are other things I can do with my time that'll make way more money, but I won't enjoy nearly as much.' "

Ronda 1.mov

Ronda Rousey won't say she's retired from MMA, and she plans on helping Dana White catch the WWE bug.

Posted by ESPN on Sunday, January 28, 2018

Rousey is the latest fighter to jump from one to the other. Current WWE champion Brock Lesnar has had success in both the WWE and UFC, while former WWE champion CM Punk (real name Phillip Brooks) left the WWE and signed with the UFC.

The former bantamweight champion joined the UFC in 2012, and held a career record of 12 wins with two losses.