UFC

Transgender MMA fighter Fallon Fox was a stereotypical manly man before she became a woman ... and TMZ has obtained the photos to prove it.

An ex-GF tells us ... she met Fallon back in 1999 when he was serving in the Navy. Fallon -- born Boyd Burton -- went by "Woody," after "Woody Boyd" from "Cheers."

The ex says Woody was a "manly man" -- athletic, short-cropped hair, leather jackets, big into heavy metal -- and she never suspected he'd become a transsexual. The two eventually broke up because of distance ... no other relationship problems.

Years after the breakup, the ex says she reached out to Fallon after she announced her transition on Facebook -- and that's when Fallon informed her she always felt she was in the wrong body.

A female transgender MMA fighter who just kicked an opponent's ass in 39 seconds has set her sights on the UFC.

Fallon Fox was born a man. In 2006, when she was 30, she had gender reassignment surgery.

Fox is now a MMA fighter for the Championship Fighting Alliance (CFA). Her record is 2 and 0 after destroying Ericka Newsome Saturday night in 39 seconds with a vicious knee to the head.

Fox says she now wants to fight "at the highest level" -- which in the MMA world is only one place -- the UFC.

Fox insists she is a woman in every respect and just happens to fall into the category of postoperative transsexual. She compares herself to any other category of women, including blacks, lesbians and the disabled.

Fox says she has no advantage over naturally born women.

The owner of CFA, Jorge De La Noval, tells TMZ, "CFA is an organization which does not discriminate against any fighter ... as long as they are professionally licensed."

As for fighting in the UFC, Dana White tells us to fight in the UFC ... Fox would have to get the green light from the state athletic commission. But he also says Fox hasn't proved herself yet ... the 2 women she's beat have never won a fight.

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Ex-UFC champ Ricco Rodriguez -- who also appeared on the first season of "Celebrity Rehab" -- has been arrested on suspicion of DUI, TMZ has learned.

According to law enforcement, Rodriguez was busted in L.A. yesterday morning at 1:25 AM. He was subsequently booked for misdemeanor DUI. Details surrounding the arrest are unclear.

He was released several hours later on $5,000 bail.

Ricco's rep tells TMZ, "When Ricco was arrested the police officer said he blew a .1. When they had him take another breathalyzer at the station only a few minutes later he blew a .08. We are wondering how a breathalyzer dropped .02 points after a very short time." Ricco's rep says they plan to fight the charges.

UFC light heavyweight champ Jon "Bones" Jones couldn't be more proud of his newborn baby daughter ... at least in the nipple-sucking department.

Jones -- whose baby daughter Olivia was born today at 6 pounds 10 ounces -- just tweeted, "Guys Liv is so pretty! She has a head full of hair and is sucking on this t*t like a champ."

Aahh ... nothing like a father's love.

Jones added, "Careful Ronda Rousey, we might have a new challenger for your belt."

It was a little more difficult than expected, but Ronda Rousey -- the first-ever UFC female champion -- defended her title with a first round submission at UFC 157 last night in Anaheim.

Rousey's victory marked the first female fight in the near 20-year history of the UFC. She is now 7-0 and has finished off each of her opponents with the same move ... an armbar ... and all of them in the first round.

Rousey's opponent, Liz Carmouche, nearly had Rousey set up for a rear-naked choke early, but Rousey countered and eventually went on to win.

Rampage Jackson is picking a fight with the UFC ... claiming he'll NEVER fight for Dana White ever again because he feels the organization has treated him like a chump. But Dana says Rampage doesn't have a choice ... because the UFC doesn't WANT him back.

Rampage was leaving AV Nightclub in L.A. Monday night when we asked about reports that he was retiring from the sport ... in the wake of Saturday's loss to UFC fighter Glover Teixeira.

"I didn't retire from MMA, " Rampage said ... adding, "But as of now ... I've left the UFC."

He continued ... "The UFC didn't treat me right. I don't like the way I was treated there."

So what pissed him off? Rampage says he was screwed out of cash ... and he feels betrayed over a deal involving Rampage action figures.

Jackson says he's hungry to sign a new deal with a rival MMA company so he can forget the UFC for good -- but he's contractually obligated to wait a month after his last fight until he can sign a new deal.

We spoke to White -- who couldn't have been more direct ... saying, "Rampage didn't quit. He lost his last 3 fights and his contract is up. Do you see me beating his door down to get him back?"

White continued, "From 2007 to 2012, Rampage has made $15.2 million with the UFC. Ask him how much he made from the 'A-Team' when I let him go film it."

UFC wrecking machine Jon Jones isn't the only professional athlete in his family -- in fact, his older brother is a stud in the NFL ... and will be starting in the SUPER BOWL!!!

Jones -- the reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion -- was out in New York yesterday when we asked about his older bro Arthur Jones -- the starting defensive end for the Baltimore Ravens.

"My brother's in the Super Bowl," Jon exclaimed ... "It's crazy man ... it's unbelievable."

When asked how his bro is preparing for the big game, Jon told us, "He's focused ... relaxing with his family, staying hungry ... studying the guy he's going up against."

Jon -- who recently signed a blockbuster sponsorship deal with Nike -- also broke some news for all you shoe freaks out there ... telling us he might have his own sneaker coming out in the near future.

WE'VE GOT SPIRIT, YES WE DO! WE'VE GOT SPIRIT, HOW 'BOUT YOU???

That's right, before UFC fighter Derek Brunson was a face-smashing bad ass ... he was a sweater-wearing, spirit-filled, HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADER with amazing moves ... caught on video.

Brunson -- who dominated in Strikeforce and is now making his Octagon debut in UFC 155 -- tells TMZ ... he ditched the "sport" after snagging a wrestling scholarship at UNC Pembroke.

As for his upcoming bout tonight, Brunson says ... "I'm getting my hand raised. GO BIG OR GO HOME."

Which kinda sounds like something a cheerleader would say ...

MMA fighter Nick Newell might only have one arm ... but he's definitely got plenty of balls ... telling TMZ he's more than capable of fighting in the Octagon -- even if UFC prez Dana White isn't convinced he can pull it off.

Nick's already the undefeated belt holder in the Xtreme Fighting Championship, but tells us he'd kill to cross over to UFC -- however, White's expressed reservations because, as he puts it ... "It's hard to fight with two arms, you know what I mean?"

Nick's response to Dana is honestly, brutal -- "I've won by arm bar, rear naked choke, guillotine, heel hook, TKO and knockout. In 9 pro fights I have never been out struck."

He adds, "If you have followed this sport, or know anything about it, you would be able to see that I'm amongst its elite. Just because I'm not in the UFC doesn't mean I wouldn't beat most of the guys in there."

Your move Dana.

Ronda Rousey's too chicken to fight Cris 'Cyborg' Santos ... and that's why Cyborg won't be facing Rousey in Rousey's first ever UFC fight next February -- Cyborg's rep tells TMZ.

FYI -- Cyborg is widely regarded as one of the most dominant female MMA fighters on the planet ... famously beating up former "American Gladiators" star Gina Carano back in 2009.

According to the rep, "This is a fight all the fans want and we want to give to them. We have offered to fight Ronda at a catch weight of 140lbs. She has turned that offer down and will not budge to make this fight happen."

The rep adds, "Cyborg wants Rousey but can not and will not drop to 135 [Rousey's fighting weight]."

According to the rep, "We understand Ronda is worried about losing because of her new found fame. We are not worried about fame; we are worried about Cris' health."

The rep tells us, several doctors have said it would be unsafe for Cris (who fights at 145) to drop ten pounds for a bout.

Ronda Rousey has signed a contract to fight in the MAIN EVENT at UFC 157 in February ... the first ever female fight in UFC history ... TMZ has learned.

Sources tell us the 25-year-old Olympic medalist will step in the ring with 28-year-old Liz Carmouche ... a highly-ranked MMA badass who served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

The fight is set to go down on Feb. 23 in Anaheim, CA.

FYI -- Carmouche has a 7-2 record and an awesome nickname -- The Girl-rilla.

Ronda Rousey ain't ashamed to say it ... she's all about banging dudes before she steps into the octagon -- thereby cementing her place as the coolest chick in sports.

The MMA champ revealed her pre-fight sex rituals with Jim Rome on Showtime ... saying, "I try to have as much sex as possible before I fight, actually."

Rousey says the old theory about no sex before fights doesn't apply to female fighters because making the beast with two backs increases testosterone levels in women -- clearly a plus before brawling.

TMZ broke the story ... Ronda is jumping to the UFC to become the league's first female fighter.

UFC legend Randy Couture is thanking his lucky stars -- because his manager narrowly dodged a gruesome death this month in L.A. ... when his BMW spontaneously burst into flames .... and TMZ has video of the fiery inferno.

Randy's manager Sam Spira tells TMZ, he was driving to a friend's house several days ago when "without any warning, my BMW X6M burst into flames, exploded and was completely totaled."

Sam says, "I can best describe the event as a very loud bang while going about 10 miles an hour -- there was a speed bump that I slowed down for -- followed by an immediate giant engine malfunction light and flames coming out from the front and under the car."

And if that wasn't scary enough, Sam says his young daughter was in the passenger seat -- and the passenger door wouldn't open. So Sam had to grab his daughter and pull her out the driver's side, burning himself in the process.

Seconds later, Sam says the car exploded and was immediately engulfed in flames. Spira adds, "Had we been traveling on the freeway, we would probably all be dead."

Firefighters arrived to the scene moments later to extinguish the blaze.

To make matters worse, Spira says his BMW dealership has not yet inspected the car to determine why the engine exploded -- and the BMW corporation is ignoring his phone calls. Spira tells us, he plans to sue if the company doesn't do something soon.

Randy Couture tells TMZ, “I was really shocked to see the pictures and video of my manager’s bad-ass BMW X6M on fire and exploding – a BMW that I drove in many many times. I am just glad that he and his children got out alive.”

Ronda Rousey won't be fighting men in the UFC ... but it's not because she can't hang -- in fact, RR could kick the living crap out of some of the UFC's top guys ... this according to Chael Sonnen.

We broke the story ... Ronda just became the very first female to ever join the UFC -- after skyrocketing to the top of the female MMA ranks in Strikeforce.

Now, Chael -- a seasoned UFC vet -- tells us, "I'd like to congratulate Ronda Rousey on becoming a pioneer in this sport. It's well deserved and overdue."

He adds, "Looks like Mitt Romney has a new favorite fighter and Rampage Jackson has another opponent he can't beat."

Ronda Rousey is stepping into The Octagon as UFC's first female fighter -- thereby paving the way for chick-on-chick violence around the globe. Kinda like Susan B. Anthony ... in 4 oz. gloves!

Ronda Rousey just made MMA history ... becoming the very first female fighter to join the UFC ... TMZ has learned.

Rousey -- a former U.S. Olympian -- has officially joined Dana White's MMA organization ... and automatically becomes the 135 lb women's champion.

We're told 25-year-old Ronda will defend her title in 2013 -- possible opponents include Sara McMann, Cris Cyborg and rival Miesha Tate.

Rousey has been fighting in Strikeforce since last year and emerged as a superstar ... beating the living crap out of just about everybody she's faced. In fact, she's undefeated. Just check out this highlight reel. (WARNING: SHE SNAPS SOME CHICK'S ELBOW IN THE VIDEO)

And there's more ... sources say Strikeforce, which airs on Showtime, will be running its last event in January before folding up shop for good. A rep for Strikeforce had no comment.

It's a pretty crazy turn of events -- considering last year, Dana told TMZ women would "NEVER" fight in the UFC.