Ronda Rousey naked in body paint bathing suit for Sports Illustrated shoot

It’s official: Ronda Rousey is not only back for this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, she’s upping the ante. This time around, the UFC fighter is going without the swimsuit altogether.

New official and behind-the-scenes paparazzi photos show the 28-year-old Californian posing for the Sports Illustrated team in nothing but body paint, which was applied to look like a curve-clinging one-piece bathing suit.

The snaps, taken on Petite Martinique island off the coast of Grenada, see the blonde stunner sitting on a rock, her breasts and behind bare save some strategically-brushed — and still quite low-cut — pigments,

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Va-va-voom! Ronda Rousey poses in only body paint in the upcoming Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue

Work it! The 28-year-old is back for her second year, though she is wearing considerably less this time

Rawr! Today, paparazzi pictures surfaced showing Ronda wearing a painted-on one-piece with an animal design

Nothing but colors: She swimsuit would be very sexy — and very revealing — even if it were real, but it’s entirely made of paint

Official: Sports Illustrated confirmed that she participated in the Caribbean shoot and is one of several models to don body paint for the upcoming issue

The steamy Caribbean photoshoot doesn’t seem to feature much by way of setting, as Ronda is perched on a rock among some trees.

But it’s unlikely anyone will care much for an exotic beach scene, anyway, with the competitive former Bantamweight Champion slinking around in nothing but skin.

The faux-swimsuit, which was inspired by a design from Australian swimwear label We Are Handsome — as well as some expert angling — cover up Ronda just enough, with a sizzling low-cut back design sexy enough to almost make a person forget that it’s not actually fabric draped over her derriere.

Barint it all: The former Bantamweight champion isn’t shy about showing off her figure

Exotic locale: The shoot took place on Petite Martinique island off the coast of Grenada

Totally natural: Ronda’s hair is loose and tousled and she is seen wearing minimal make-up

Gorgeous: The editors of the issue confirmed her appearance and called the star ‘flawless’

Back for round two: Last year, she posed on Captiva Island for photographer Walter Iooss Jr.

Yesterday, fans first got a hint that Ronda might be returning for the 2016 issue, a year after she posed on Captiva Island by famous photographer Walter Iooss Jr.

SI Swimsuit editor MJ Day shared her own behind-the-scenes teaser from the shoot, picturing just Ronda’s back and behind in the body paint one-piece.

Taken during the publication’s current exotic shoot, Day uploaded the picture alongside the caption: ‘#instabooty if #2016 keeps going like this then I’m going to be one happy happy girl! #bootypaint #siswimsuit.’

The image quickly sent the internet into an excitable frenzy, as Ronda was recognizable by two tattoos on her wrists, which she first revealed in April of 2013.

Inspiration: Sports Illustrated revealed that Ronda’s body paint was inspired by Australian swimwear label We Are Handsome, which is a favorite with the likes of Beyonce (pictured) and Rihanna

Sexy! Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editor MJ Day shared this behind-the-scenes image from the shoot on the magazine’s Swim Daily website on Wednesday, confirming rumors about Ronda’s appearance in the magazine

Lean back: In another official behind-the-scenes shot, Ronda can be seen lounging on the sand in her painted-on suit

Cheeky clue: MJ Day posted this image onto his Instagram account on Tuesday, prompting fans to guess that it showed Ronda

Evidence: In April 2013 the UFC fighter revealed her new Kodokan flower Judo emblem, and UFC Octagon inkings, the same as those seen on the person featured in MJ Day’s image

Second time’s the charm! Rousey, who is pictured showing off one of the tattoos at a press conference before her UFC loss to Holly Holm in November, also starred in a shoot for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit last year

The mixed martial artist has a Kodokan flower Judo emblem inking on her right wrist, and a UFC Octagon on her left, courtesy of tattoo artist, Hilmar Ramos.

Initially, Sports Illustrated refused to confirm her appearance in the upcoming issue, simply writing on its official website: ‘Isn’t the idea of Ronda donning nothing but paint enough to tie you over until the issue comes out in February? A body-painted spread in SI Swimsuit would truly be a comeback for the ages!’

Today, however — perhaps due to the release of the paparazzi images — the magazine confirmed that she is coming back for a second year.

The editors also revealed that she won’t be the only model to don body paint for the sexy issue.

Following six consecutive title defences, Rousey was stunned by Holm in the second round of the bout

Rousey (left) was knocked out by a head kick and has revealed she is still ‘really f****** sad’ about it

Downtime: Ronda has been keeping a low-profile since the loss, mostly being spotted by paparazzi while out with boyfriend Travis Browne

Ronda went into the shoot off the back of a shocking loss to fellow American Holly Holm in the UFC women’s Bantamweight title fight in November.

She has largely remained out of the public eye since, with the main exception being her December appearance at the Marine Corps Ball after being asked out by Lance Corporal Jarrod Haschert.

She has also been spotted out in California with boyfriend Travis Browne, 33, a fellow UFC fighter who was publicly accused by his ex-wife of spousal abuse.

The two have been keeping a low-profile while Ronda recovers from her injuries, which she said could take months to heal.

Though she described being ‘f***ing sad’ about the loss, however, she isn’t wallowing, and had since challenged Holly to a rematch. It has been rumored that it may take place on July 9, though neither the fight nor the date have been confirmed.