RONDA ROUSEY is training to make a sensational return to the UFC, it’s been claimed.

The former long-reigning bantamweight champion walked away from mixed martial arts in 2016 following back-to-back losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes.

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Ronda Rousey hasn't fought in mixed martial arts in nearly seven years

Ronda Rousey hasn’t fought in mixed martial arts in nearly seven yearsCredit: GETTY

Rousey walked away from mixed martial arts after losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes

Rousey walked away from mixed martial arts after losses to Holly Holm and Amanda NunesCredit: GETTY

Rousey has been tipped to make a shock octagon return ater she leaves WWE

Rousey has been tipped to make a shock octagon return ater she leaves WWECredit: WWE

That paved the way for a move to the world of wrestling with the WWE, who she’s reportedly on the verge of leaving.

Talk of Rousey, 36, making a stunning return to the octagon has ramped up following the retirement of former 135 and 145lbs champion Nunes.

And former Invicta FC star Chelsea Chandler claims to have first-hand knowledge of Rowdy training to make her cage comeback at featherweight.

During the UFC Vegas 77 media day, she said: “There really is no bantamweight champion, but I’ve been hearing that Ronda is coming back.

“I heard she’s coming back at 45. So, you never know.“If I go out there and put on the performance I plan on putting, I’ll welcome her to the 45 [division].”

The prospect of Rousey returning to the UFC is something Chandler relishes – and she more than fancies her chances against the Hall-of-Famer.

She continued: “I think it would be a great fight.

“It has been a long time for her and things change.

“People get better, and I think people are over her one-trick Pony armbar.

“But, money talks, and she would bring eyes to the sport again, and I feel like her time in WWE is starting to go down. So I’d like to see it.”

Despite walking away from fighting without so much as a goodbye, Rousey admits she found it tough to hang up her gloves.

She said: “I think it was difficult [to quit] in both judo and MMA.

Ronda Rousey admits she found it difficult to walk away from mixed martial arts

Ronda Rousey admits she found it difficult to walk away from mixed martial artsCredit: AP
“In that everyone else felt that they wanted more from me.

“Like, in judo you peak in your mid-20s. I medaled at 21 so I was going to be 25 for the next Olympics.

Everyone’s like, ‘Oh, this is it! You’re going to be the first [American woman] to win an Olympic gold!’

“And I didn’t want it anymore, and I couldn’t do it for everybody else.

“And I think that’s a mistake that I made with MMA, was when I got to that point where I didn’t want it anymore, I kept doing it for everybody else.”