LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 28: Ronda Rousey celebrates her victory over Cat Zingano in their UFC women's bantamweight championship bout during the UFC 184 event at Staples Center on February 28, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Ronda Rousey fans have just gotten the most encouraging news in a long while, and it's big

Ronda Rousey has reportedly been in training preparing for her return to the UFC after dropping the bantamweight title in November of 2015.

Ronda Rousey has reportedly been in training preparing for her return to the UFC after dropping the bantamweight title in November of 2015.

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Related: Ronda Rousey has overcome one major hurdle on her road back to the Octagon

While it was widely known she was recovering from "minor surgeries" including a knee cleanup, the former champ was slated to be available for a return in late 2016 or early 2017. That apparently has changed, per UFC president Dana White, via Daily Star:

"Rowdy" could actually still fight soon, and for the belt, too," he told Esporte Espetacular.

"Yes, there's a big chance that Ronda Rousey will fight Amanda Nunes and I'm very confident that Ronda will probably fight before the end of the year."

Rousey lost the belt via knockout to Holly Holm, her first loss of her professional career. Miesha Tate would go on to choke out Holm, before getting knocked out by Amanda Nunes.

Nunes has angled for a championship fight at UFC 205 from Madison Square Garden in October, but the main event has yet to be announced.