Rousey named finalist for prestigious Sports Illustrated award

Aug 1, 2015; Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Ronda Rousey (red gloves) looks on prior to her fight against Bethe Correia (not pictured) during UFC 190 at HSBC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports

UFC women‘s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey poses for the news media on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, at Glendale Fighting Club in Glendale, Calif. (Adam Hill/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Ronda Rousey laughs during an interview at the Las Vegas Production Studio in Las Vegas on Friday, May 22, 2015. Rousey is the UFC Women‘s Bantamweight champion. (Joshua Dahl/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Aug 1, 2015; Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Ronda Rousey (red gloves) reacts after knocking out Bethe Correia (not pictured) during UFC 190 at HSBC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports

Ronda Rousey (red gloves) reacts after defeating Cat Zingano (not pictured) during their women‘s bantamweight title bout at UFC 184 at Staples Center. Rousey won in 14 seconds of the first round. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)

Along the way to becoming the UFC’s most popular fighter, Ronda Rousey has filled her trophy case with just about every imaginable award.

She may soon have to make some more space.

The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in judo has been named one of 12 contenders for Sports Illustrated’s 2015 Sportsman of the Year.

Rousey, who will defend the UFC women’s bantamweight title against Holly Holm in the main event of UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia on Saturday, has stiff competition for the title.

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, PGA star Jordan Speith, World Cup hero Carli Lloyd and NBA superstar Steph Curry are also on the list.

In writing about her nomination, Sports Illustrated praised Rousey for just how quickly she dispatched of her competition this year.

“There may not be an athlete alive more dominant at his or her sport than Rousey,” Richard Deitsch wrote. “The undefeated UFC women’s bantamweight champion had the best year of her career in 2015, taking out previously unbeaten Cat Zingano via armbar in a mere 14 seconds at UFC 184 and following that up with a 34-second KO of Bethe Correia at UFC 190 in Brazil.”

Voting is open on the Sports Illustrated website for who should win, but ultimately the publication will make the call and unveil the choice on Dec. 14.

The rest of the field named as contenders are Simone Biles, Usain Bolt, Thomas Davis, Novak Djokovic, Lionel Messi, the Kansas City Royals and Serena Williams.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj