Which fighter was awarded the inaugural UFC women's bantamweight championship?

Ronda Rousey was awarded the inaugural UFC women's bantamweight championship. UFC president Dana White announced her as the first UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion at a December 6, 2012, press conference.

The distinction matters because Rousey did not win the UFC belt in a UFC title bout. She entered the organization as Strikeforce's reigning women's bantamweight champion, and the UFC absorbed that championship status when it introduced the division. Rousey therefore became both the UFC's first female champion and its first women's bantamweight champion.

Her first UFC title defense came at UFC 157 on February 23, 2013, against Liz Carmouche. Rousey survived an early submission threat and won by first-round armbar at 4:49. She ultimately made six successful defenses before Holly Holm defeated her at UFC 193 in November 2015.

Miesha Tate and Cat Zingano are common mix-ups: Tate was a later title challenger and champion, while Zingano challenged Rousey in 2015. Holly Holm became champion only after defeating Rousey.