Ronda Rousey to defend title versus Sara McMann at UFC 170 in headlining bout

LAS VEGAS – The sweet taste of Saturday night's UFC 168 victory over Miesha Tate was so good for women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, that she's ready to get back in there and do it again. And during the UFC 168 post-fight press conference, while basking in the glow of having put Tate once and for all behind her, UFC president Dana White announced that she would.

And soon.

Rousey will face Sara McMann at UFC 170 on February 22 in Las Vegas, less than two months from her second title defense against Tate on Saturday night. Rousey -- who took home $150,000 in bonus money for submission and fight of the night -- said she had already talked to White about the potential match-up before the Tate bout.

"Dana actually approached me about this before this fight," Rousey said in the post-fight press conference. "I wanted to stay focused on this [fight], but I'd taken such a long time off that I feel like I want to fight again soon, I don't want to sit on the shelf. I'm in the best shape of my life now, so I think that it would be the perfect time to go back-to-back."

The booking comes as a little bit of a surprise as Rousey's original opponent was supposed to be Cat Zingano, As Zingano is still in the recovery process from a knee injury -- the one that forced her out of the title bout and the coaching stint opposite Rousey on The Ultimate Fighter 18 --  the Olympic Freestyle Wrestler McMann steps into the contender role.

McMann, who has captivated the imagination of many fans because of her wrestling credentials, last appeared in the Octagon at UFC 159 in April, when she defeated Sheila Gaff. She was slated to fight Sarah Kaufman this past August, though she had to pull out of the bout due to personal reasons. It will mark McMann's second UFC appearance, and only her eighth professional fight.

UFC 170 will be co-headlined by Rashad Evans and 205-pound debutante, Daniel Cormier.