Ronda Rousey to return at UFC 207 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas

She’s back.

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will return to action to challenge Amanda Nunes for the belt at UFC 207 on Dec. 30 at T-Mobile Arena, UFC president Dana White announced during an appearance on Colin Cowherd’s FS1 TV/radio show Wednesday.

Rousey has not fought since losing the title to Holly Holm in November 2015.

There has been much speculation over the past year about Rousey’s mental state and whether she still had the desire to fight, particularly after she admitted to experiencing suicidal thoughts after the first loss of her career during an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

White told Cowherd there is no concern about her state of mind.

“It was never about a psychological problem with Ronda,” White said. “She wanted time off. She said, ‘I want to go away and relax.’ This girl worked hard for us for three years, nonstop, fight promotion after fight promotion. She wanted time off, and in this sport, I say it all the time, if you even hint, ‘I want to retire or I want time off,’ you need to do it.”

Rousey posted a promotional video and poster shortly after the announcement with the hashtag “#fearthereturn.”

It will be the first title defense for Nunes, who took the belt from Miesha Tate at UFC 200 in July. The title Rousey had held since its inception in late 2012 has traded hands twice during her hiatus. Tate submitted Holm to win the belt in April before Nunes tapped out Tate in the first round to become the fourth champion in UFC women’s bantamweight history.

White has long said Rousey would get an immediate title shot upon her return.

“Ronda Rousey has been the biggest, baddest female fighter on the planet since we got into women’s fighting,” White said. “Ronda had a bad loss, obviously, lost her title — she’s still Ronda Rousey at the end of the day.”

The announcement of the fight at least temporarily means Rousey won’t fight Cris “Cyborg” Justino, who has been lobbying hard on social media for a shot at Rousey.

Justino, the Invicta Fighting Championships featherweight champ, has fought twice in the UFC, recording two one-sided knockout victories in catchweight bouts. She has long insisted it would be impossible for her to cut down to 135 pounds, but wants Rousey to move up to 140 for what White once said would be the biggest fight in mixed martial arts history.

White left the door open to the bout should Rousey beat Nunes.

“I know that ‘Cyborg’ wants that fight. Ronda wants that fight, too,” White said. “Ronda’s plan right now is to come back and try to win her title back, and if that happens, the ‘Cyborg’ fight will definitely happen.”

Justino posted a lengthy message on Facebook, expressing irritation and frustration about not getting the fight against Rousey.

“If Ronda Rousey goes 0-2, I am not sure she will continue to fight,” Justino wrote. “She is fighting to win a popularity contest and win back an image, not to prove anything to herself. She never wanted to give the fans this fight against me. I am going to enjoy my holiday, and stop thinking about a fight against Ronda Rousey for a while.”

No other fights have been announced for UFC 207, a rare Friday night card for the organization.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj