Undefeated Sara McMann was long thought to be a future opponent for Strikeforce bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.
Then when Rousey became the first female to sign a contract to fight in the UFC, McMann was still considered a worthy foe.
UFC President Dana White, however, announced Thursday that Liz Carmouche would get the shot at Rousey’s UFC 135-pound belt at UFC 157 at Honda Center in Anaheim on Feb. 23.
McMann, who like Rousey has a decorated Olympic background as the first American woman to receive a silver medal in women’s wrestling at the 2004 Games in Athens, welcomed the news Thursday evening.
Just finished training… Happy to see women as the main event @ufc 157 🙂
— Sara McMann (@Sara_McMann) December 7, 2012
McMann (6-0) changed her tune a bit Friday morning after hearing she had reportedly declined to fight Rousey.
It is hard to turn down a fight… that was never offered #ForTheRecord
— Sara McMann (@Sara_McMann) December 7, 2012