Former UFC champ Rousey joins WWE
Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey announced a career turn to WWE on Sunday night, appearing at the Royal Rumble in Philadelphia and expressing interest in an extended run with the professional wrestling company.
“This is my life now. Yeah, they have first priority on my time for the next several years,” she told ESPN.
Rousey, a longtime pro wrestling fan whose nickname was borrowed from “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, was the first American woman to medal in judo at the 2008 Olympics. She applied her skills to mixed martial arts and won her first 12 fights while becoming the first women’s champion in the UFC and a superstar among athletes.
But Rousey was barely heard from after losing her belt to Holly Holm in 2015, then getting dominated by current champion Amanda Nunes in just 48 seconds in her December 2016 return.
Her move to wrestling full-time follows a foray into film and television for a few years, and a performance at Wrestle Mania 31 in 2015. — Lance Pugmire
Rolex 24 at Daytona winners crowned
Action Express Racing won its third Rolex 24 at Daytona overall title, and Chip Ganassi Racing celebrated its 200th victory with a win in the GT Le Mans class.
Both two-car teams finished first and second in their respective classes at the 24-hour race at Daytona International Speedway.
The Action Express team of Filipe Albuquerque, Joao Barbosa
and Christian Fittipaldi drove Cadillac to the overall victory, and its other car finished second. It’s the second consecutive Rolex overall victory for Cadillac, but by the team that was second last year.
Ganassi’s two Ford entries dominated the GT Le Mans class and defended last year’s victory.
The team of Ryan Briscoe, Richard Westbrook and Scott Dixon won and defeated its sister car, which was the defending class champion. The car of Joey Hand, Dirk Mueller and Sebastien Bourdais finished second.
Ganassi now has eight wins in 15 Rolex appearances. His teams won six overall titles and have two class victories. He’s the only team owner in history to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, Rolex and 12 Hours of Sebring.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso made his debut in a major sports car competition but had mechanical problems and finished 13th in class and 38th overall. Roger Penske’s return to sports car competition resulted in ninth-and 10th-place overall finishes for his entries. Scott Pruett, a fivetime Rolex overall winner, was ninth in the GTD class in the final race of his 50-year career.
Jaromir Jagr, the second-leading scorer in NHL history, has been placed on waivers by the Calgary Flames, the Associated Press reported. Jagr, 45, had a goal and six assists in 22 games.
The Philadelphia Phillies signed six-time All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez, 36, to a minor league contract.
Stanford running back Bryce Love won the Lombardi Award, given to the top Division I football player for performance, leadership, character and resilience.
Haotong Li held off Rory McIlroy to win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic by one shot . ... Brittany Lincicome won the Pure SilkBahamas LPGA Classic for the second straight year.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Andre Roberson is expected to miss the rest of the year with a ruptured patellar tendon.
Missouri’s Title IX office is investigating basketball player Terrence Phillips, a junior guard from Orange County who has been suspended indefinitely.
The Boston Breakers of the National Women’s Soccer League are ceasing operations.
Americans Taylor Fritz and Danielle Collins captured the biggest titles of their pro careers at the Oracle Challenger Series at the Newport Beach Tennis Club.