1 Jan 2017

Rousey's career could be over

5:25 am on 1 January 2017

Ronda Rousey's effort to reclaim her UFC bantamweight title ended in spectacular failure as champion Amanda Nunes stopped her after just 48 seconds of the first round of their title fight in Las Vegas.

UFC fighter Ronda Rousey.

UFC fighter Ronda Rousey. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Nunes rocked the former champion right at the start of the fight with a flurry of big punches, her superior boxing never allowing the Californian to close the gap and use her judo skills to take the fight to the floor.

Rousey had no answer to the power of the 28-year-old and referee Herb Dean quickly stepped in to stop the fight as Rousey could no longer defend herself.

"She did a lot for the sport - she was the champion, but now I am the champion," an elated Nunes said in the octagon following her victory.

Rousey left the octagon immediately following the official decision.

The defeat could signal the end of the road for the 29-year-old, who lost her title a little over a year ago when she was knocked out in stunning fashion by Holly Holm's head kick in Melbourne.

But Rousey's stature as one of the biggest draws in mixed martial arts saw her get a 4 and a half million dollar purse for the fight, plus an undisclosed share of the pay-per-view revenues.

In contrast, Nunes was paid 150 thousand dollars to show and another 150 thousand as a win bonus for her first title defence, apart from an undisclosed share of pay per view revenues.

In the co-main event, challenger Cody Garbrandt scored a thrilling unanimous decision victory over Dominick Cruz in another stunning upset to claim the men's bantamweight belt.

He sent Cruz crashing to the canvas three times in the fourth round before winning on the judges' scorecards.

-Reuters