UFC Star Ronda Rousey Accepts Date With Marine

A US Marine has said he is "so happy and excited" after Ultimate Fighting Championship superstar Ronda Rousey accepted his viral invitation to a military dance.

L/Cpl Jarrod Haschert asked Rousey to accompany him to December's Marine Corps Ball at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in a Facebook clip that has been viewed more than five million times.

"I can't wait to get in contact with her!" the 22-year-old told Sky News on Wednesday.

L/Cpl Haschert was wearing full Marine uniform as he declared the mixed martial arts fighter to be his "celebrity crush" in the video message posted on 22 August.

"I love everything you do and I think that you are a phenomenal person," he told the undefeated UFC women's bantamweight champion.

"Which is why it would be my honour to take you to the Marine Corps Ball on December 11th.

"I really hope this doesn't get in the way of your training ... but I hope you take this in consideration, because if you do, you will truly be making my dream come true."

At first it seemed L/Cpl Haschert might be going solo because 28-year-old Rousey had a fight scheduled for January next year, meaning she would be busy training in December.

But her bout against Holly Holm has since been moved forward to November, meaning she can go to the ball.

Rousey, from California, told TMZ she would accept, describing L/Cpl Haschert as "cute".

"He's gotta be a gentleman," she said. "I'm not a first-date kind of girl, but we'll see when I meet him."

She has imposed one other condition: L/Cpl Haschert must find dates for three of her friends.

Celebrity date proposals to the Marine Corps ball have become almost an annual ritual in recent years.

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian, actress Mila Kunis and singer Justin Timberlake are among those who have attended as plus ones.