It’s official, (Rowdy) Ronda Rousey has been crowned the inaugural UFC women’s bantamweight champion.

UFC president Dana White confirmed the news to a group of reporters following the UFC 154 post-fight press conference early Sunday morning.

“She is now,” White said. “She’s the first ever women’s UFC champion.

“I’m trying this whole women’s thing out. Obviously, Ronda is the champ. I think Ronda has the potential to be a big star. She’s already been getting media that we’ve never even gotten before — and she’s never even set foot in the UFC yet.

“Ronda’s the champ. She’ll come in and we’ll see how this thing plays out.”

The former Strikeforce women’s 135-pound titleholder quickly became the face of women’s MMA by viciously dispatching opponents with her trademark armbar.

In March, she dethroned Miesha (Cupcake) Tate before defending her Strikeforce title against B.C.’s Sarah Kaufman. Combining both amateur and professional bouts, Rousey holds nine victories, all by first-round armbar.

As a result of her killer instincts in the cage, and charisma and beauty outside it, Rousey’s star has been steadily on the rise. She appeared on the cover of ESPN The Magazine’s body issue, was a guest on Conan O’Brien’s talk show and became the first female fighter to stop by The Ultimate Fighter house.

Though a date and opponent for Rousey’s UFC debut have yet to be determined, White stated he hopes to have the 2008 Olympic judo bronze-medal winner headline a future pay-per-view. If the UFC president gets his way, former Strikeforce women’s featherweight titleholder Cristiane (Cyborg) Santos will cut to 135 pounds to challenge Rousey.

However, putting that fight together is easier said than done.

The two fighters have even exchanged numerous barbs in the media and over Twitter, but Santos has long claimed she cannot safely make the weight. The Brazilian slugger recently stated that attempting to do so could harm her health and potentially affect her ability to have children.

While Strikeforce’s women are under contract with UFC parent company Zuffa, LLC, White said only the bantamweight division will be brought over. If Santos can’t make the weight, she won’t compete in the UFC.

“Our matchmakers have talked to their camp and she doesn’t seem too excited to fight Ronda,” White said. “We’re bringing in the 135-pound division. That’s what we’re doing.”

In one of the biggest women’s fights in MMA history, Santos captured the Strikeforce 145-pound title with a first-round TKO victory over Gina Carano on Aug. 15, 2009. She followed up win with consecutive knockout victories over Marloes Coenen and Jan Finney.

At Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal in San Diego Dec. 17, 2011, she picked up a 16-second TKO win over Hiroko Yamanaka. However, Santos later tested positive for stanozolol metabolites, an anabolic steroid. The Chute Boxe Academy fighter later apologized for the failed drug test, which she blamed on a dietary supplement.

The California State Athletic Commission overturned the result, declaring it a no-contest. Santos was fined $2,500, stripped of her championship and had her fighter’s licence suspended one year retroactive to the date of the Yamanaka fight.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

When UFC 154 wrapped up Saturday in Montreal, the world’s largest MMA organization was left with two unresolved middleweight fights.

Mere hours before the event, Nick (The Promise) Ring became ill and was forced out of a scheduled bout with Constantinos Philippou. Both fighters were paid their show money, but White was noncommittal on the subject of booking the two again in the near future.

However, he was adamant about scheduling a rematch between Patrick (The Predator) Cote and Alessio (Legionarius) Sakara after their first encounter came to a disastrous conclusion.

After cracking Cote with a nasty elbow, Sakara unloaded with a barrage of punches to the back of the Quebec City fighter’s head. Referee Dan Miragliotta appeared gun-shy as Sakara continually landed the illegal strikes. He eventually stepped in and Cote was awarded the disqualification victory.

White pulled no punches regarding Miragliotta’s performance at the post-fight press conference.

“That was horrible job,” White began. “I counted between seven and nine illegal punches to the back of the head — it was crazy. He was just standing there, watching it.

“The ref absolutely, 100% failed to do his job tonight in a dangerous, dangerous way.”

HENDRICKS ROCKIN’

With a stunning first-round KO victory over Martin (Hitman) Kampmann at UFC 154 in Montreal Saturday, Johny (Bigg Rigg) Hendricks has secured the coveted No. 1 contender spot.

But when he gets the chance to fight Georges (Rush) St. Pierre for the welterweight title is a whole different issue.

After winning a thrilling unanimous-decision victory over Carlos Condit at UFC 154, St. Pierre brushed off questions regarding a potential super-fight with middleweight champ Anderson Silva.

White said Silva is ready to go, but he will give St. Pierre roughly 10 days to recuperate before broaching the subject.

Though Hendricks wants his title fight as soon as possible, he is willing to sit out and wait for the opportunity.

“How often do you get a title shot?” Hendricks said. “I’ve cleared out the division now and there’s only one other person I’d like to fight — he’s at the top.

“I don’t like it, but what can I do? I can go out there and finish fights and that’s about all I can do. I’ve made my case. (Kampmann is) a tough fighter. I knew he was going to be and I finished him. The only thing left is, hopefully, Georges St. Pierre.”