Who is Ronda Rousey? A Look at One of UFC's First Female Fighters Heading into UFC 157 Saturday vs. Liz Carmouche [VIDEO]

To many UFC fans, female fighting sensation Ronda Rousey a knockout-in almost every sense of the word.

In the days leading up to UFC 157's highly-anticipated first-ever female fight in the 19-year history of the promotion, Rousey, 26, has been drawing a hail of media coverage, with everyone wanting to know more about the blonde fighter with a 6-0 record as she prepares to defend her Bantamweight Championship against Liz Carmouche Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

And UFC's first-ever female Bantamweight Champion could not be more surprised.

"I didn't think it would be this big," Rousey told USA Today. "It's a little bit surprising."

UFC President Dana White knows that this coming fight is sure to draw a female demographic, which is a powerful and money-making section of fans to draw. And since the billing of Rosuey vs. Carmouche as the headlining event for Saturday's UFC event, White told the L.A. Times that the amount of publicity that the mixed martial arts promotion has been unprecedented.

"This is the most media attention we've ever had before a fight," White said, projecting a sellout and strong pay-per-view sales.

How big is it? Apparently, according to White, the 5'6" Rousey has easily surpassed former UFC star Brock Lesnar in media attention.

"No one has fought with the attention she has received," White said.

Rousey, a bronze medalist in judo at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, has been generating a lot of attention since she debuted in MMA in 2010, which she won against Hayden Munoz via an armbar submission in less than 30 seconds. Rousey won the Skrikeforce Women's Bantamweight Championship in March 2012 by defeating Miesha Tate, with Rousey actually dislocating her opponent's elbow with an armbar in the first round.

And outside of the mat? Rousey has earned a reputation as being outspoken and not at all shy about voicing her opinion. She once called fellow 2008 Olympian Michael Phelps "a diva" in one interview last year and said that she would like to "beat the crap out of" reality TV star Kim Kardashian, Rousey adding that Kardashian was a poor role model for children and was only famous do to the sex tape she did with singer Ray J that was leaked in 2007.

And in January, Rousey generated controversy when she tweeted a video on her Twitter account called about the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December being a hoax. Rousey later apologized to her followers.

But the prized female fighter with the good looks isn't all venom and stinger. In an interview with Oxygen, Rousey reveals that she credits her mother, former World Judo champion Ann Maria, for instilling a hard work ethic into her. She also loves animals, hair ties, the beach and likes listening to The Wallflowers, The Dresden Dolls, Kid Cudi and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

And what advice does the Olympian and pioneering UFC female fighter give on chasing dreams?

" "The path is extremely bumpy. The people who want it the most are going to win it. You must be consistently motivated," she said.

Watch Rousey get candid on a number of subjects, including her upcoming fight and Danica Patrick, in this video clip: