After a week of speculation, UFC President Dana White confirmed the UFC’s signing of Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. White confirmed the news on “The Jim Rome Show.” The signing makes Rousey the first woman to sign with the promotion. An opponent, and debut date, are expected to be named soon.

In another bit of Strikeforce news, it appears that Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will not fight on the promotion’s January card. Rumors of Melendez being out spread quickly, with Brazilian site Tatame reporting the news, before White seemed to confirm the news in a fan chat with the Montreal Gazette. Melendez will reportedly need more time to rest his injured shoulder and will likely have his next fight in the UFC if Strikeforce does close shop after the January fight card.

Other News:

• Tattoo shop owner Chris Escobedo is suing the makers of UFC Undisputed 3, THQ, for copyright infringement. The suit alleges that THQ violated his copyright when the video game company reproduced an original tattoo of a lion on former UFC interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit. The case is similar to one served against The Hangover 2.
• UFC middleweight Nick Ring has told Full Contact Fighter that it was a viral respiratory infection that knocked him out of his bout with Costa Philippou prior to UFC 154.
• Bellator light heavyweight champion Christian M’Pumbu will defend his title versus Attila Vegh at Bellator 84 in Hammond, Indiana.