Ronda Rousey wins historic women's UFC debut

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Ronda Rousey won the first women's bout in UFC history Saturday night, beating Liz Carmouche (7-3) on an armbar with 11 seconds left in the first round of their bantamweight title fight at UFC 157.

Rousey (7-0) defended her belt with her signature move, forcing Carmouche to tap out after bending back her arm. Rousey raised both arms in victory while flat on the canvas after the longest fight of the mixed martial artist's ascendant career.

Former UFC champion Lyoto Machida won a lackluster split decision over 42-year-old veteran Dan Henderson on the undercard at Honda Center, and bantamweight Urijah Faber beat Ivan Menjivar with an acrobatic rear naked choke late in the first round.

But the sellout crowd largely showed up to see Rousey, whose star power and athleticism ended UFC President Dana White's long-standing disinterest in women's MMA - and even put Rousey and Carmouche in the main event of a pay-per-view show.

Rousey and Carmouche didn't disappoint in their sport's pressure-packed debut. Although Rousey was heavily favored, Carmouche actually got Rousey in trouble early, nearly landing a rear naked choke while clinging to Rousey's back in the opening two minutes.