The dominant UFC star was presented with the honour on the red carpet just before the ceremony got underway and quickly realised she had beaten the boxer for the title.

Turning to the camera, Rousey scowled, "I wonder how Floyd feels being beat by a woman for once."

The dig referred to the boxer's well-documented battery of women. He served prison time in 2012 for an attack on his ex-girlfriend Josie Harris and he was charged with two counts of domestic violence and one count of misdemeanour battery in 2002.

Mayweather, Jr. was also given a one-year suspended jail sentence in 2004 and ordered to undergo counselling for "impulse control" after he was convicted of two counts of misdemeanour battery against two women.