Ronda Rousey
 

So much for Holly Holm knocking Rousey off her pedestal. Holm may have won the title belt from Rousey and blemished her perfect UFC record, but Ronda is still the superstar she was before her crushing upset in Australia.

After a little time out of the spotlight, she's coming back in full force. Saturday Night Live announced Rousey will host the January 23 show with musical guest Selena Gomez.


Rousey joins a long, respectable line of athletes who have hosted SNL, and her appearance is a significant accomplishment. She'll be the first MMA fighter to host the long-running show, and she'll be the first female to join the ranks of athletes like Peyton Manning, Derek Jeter, Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan, all of whom have hosted in the past.

Athletes typically struggle on the SNL stage, but the writers often have fun fitting them into inventive sketches. One thing Rousey has going for her: With her acting career poised for takeoff, she should have the chops to hang better than most of the athletes before her.

At any rate, she'll be hosting in the same season as Donald Trump, so expectations are not exactly through the roof.

More: Ronda Rousey: I'll Be Back

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey steals the spotlight when she puts the clamps on Stephanie McMahon at WrestleMania 31.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey connects with fans in Brazil.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey speaks on a sports panel at SXSW in Austin.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Mario Lopez welcomes Rousey to the set of 'Extra' at Universal Studios

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey waves to fans at Univesal CityWalk.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey appears at a promotional event with Reebok and UFC.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Hip hop artist Swizz Beatz poses with Rousey.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey draws a crowd in Hollywood.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey attends a special screening of "The Expendables 3" in Macao.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger flank Rousey at The Venetian Macao.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey attends the Los Angeles premiere of "The Expendables 3" at the TCL Chinese Theatre.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

"The Expendables 3" is Rousey's first acting credit.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey shares a laugh with Joe Rogan after weighing in before UFC 175.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey joins the cast of "The Expendables 3" at the Cannes Film Festival.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey attends the Cannes premiere of "The Expendables 3" with Antonio Banderas, Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson and Wesley Snipes.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey works a scene on location in Beverly Hills with Jerry Ferrara for the "Entoutage" movie.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey takes time to pose with a fan at LAX airport.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey poses during a UFC portrait session in December 2013.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey has an exchange with Jimmy Kimmel.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey is featured in the 2012 edition of ESPN The Magazine's annual body issue.

 

Ronda Rousey: Outside The Octagon

Rousey wins a bronze medal in judo at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She is the first American woman to earn an Olympic medal in judo.

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