UFC Champ Ronda Rousey Makes Racy Debut at No. 29 in 2013 Maxim Hot 100

Bantamweight women's MMA star Ronda Rousey is already having a banner stint in 2013 so far.

Not only has the Olympic bronze medalist and judo master successfully notched her first UFC title defense and a major XYIENCE endorsement, but she's arguably one of the most popular athletes in mixed martial arts.

Now, Rousey officially been re-recognized as one of the 100 most beautiful women in the world.

This year, "Rowdy" makes her debut in the annual Maxim "Hot 100" race at No. 29, and the publication is teasing their upcoming print issue with a rather risque promo image of an almost-nude Rousey.

Of course, it's not nearly as revealing as her famous photoshoot for ESPN's 2012 Body Issue, which turned many heads inside and outside the sport.

But as the champion herself noted on her official Twitter feed, there's plenty more to come when the next issue of Maxim Magazine hits newsstands.

Currently, the entire list has yet to be revealed, although other famous UFC personalities like Octagon Girls Brittney Palmer and Arianny Celeste were also in the running for the 2013 list.

Notably, Rousey is the third-highest ranking MMA celebrity to join the Maxim Hot 100 ranks so far, with action star and former Strikeforce headliner Gina Carano still holding the top spot with her 2009 mark behind Katy Perry (No. 15), Christina Aguilera (No. 14) and Jessica Alba (No. 13).

For comparison, here's where Rousey, Carano and Celeste have placed historically:

• Gina Carano - No. 16 (Maxim Hot 100, 2009)
• Arianny Celeste - No. 23 (Maxim Hot 100, 2010)
• Ronda Rousey - No. 29 (Maxim Hot 100, 2013)
• Arianny Celeste - No. 58 (Maxim Hot 100, 2012)
• Arianny Celeste - No. 70 (Maxim Hot 100, 2011)

Regardless of where (or if) Palmer and Celeste rank on the 2013 lineup, the two UFC ring girls can still point to a strong showing amongst FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World" for their achievements, where Rousey was nowhere to be found.

Impressive as her debut looks, Rousey's place in the 2013 Maxim Hot 100 also leaves room for improvement next year.

According to Maxim's poll results, the UFC champion finished just behind Olivia Munn (No. 28) and Boy Meets World star Danielle Fishel (No. 27).

Although it's technically unofficial until the June 2013 issue is public and on sale, Hannah Montana star, pop singer and Disney alumnus Miley Cyrus has claimed (via Instagram) that fans have voted her as the No. 1 member of Maxim's 2013 class.

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McKinley Noble is an MMA conspiracy theorist. His work has appeared in NVision, PC World, Macworld, GamePro, 1UP, MMA Mania and The L.A. Times.