Ronda Rousey named 1 of 3 Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition cover models

Ronda Rousey may no longer have the Ultimate Fighting Championship belt around her waist, but her knockout loss to Holly Holm in November appears to have done nothing to dampen her appeal in pop culture.

The former women’s bantamweight champ was named one of the three cover models for this year’s Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, the magazine announced Saturday.

Models Ashley Graham and Hailey Clauson were also selected by the magazine’s editors.

It marks the first time the issue will hit newsstands with three different covers.

“Ronda Rousey is a cultural phenomenon. She is the perfect combination of beauty, brains, brawn and humility,” assistant managing editor MJ Day told SI.com. “She possesses a spirit bigger than the space around her and it is both infectious and inspiring. She’s a Phoenix, as fiery and beautiful as any mythical creature ever depicted.”

Rousey also appeared in last year’s issue.

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