“I was training to fight [at UFC 176], and I was ready, but they changed the dates and made me hungrier than ever to fight and do what I have to do,” Correia told MMAFighting.com. “I had more time to prepare, and I’m going to take it out on her [laughs].”
Baszler makes her Octagon debut against Correia on the Aug. 30 card with a 15-8 record, mostly with submission victories. Correia went the distance in the majority of her professional career, and it’s no secret that she wants to keep it standing.
“It’s a MMA fight. You can’t guarantee that it’s going to be a striking battle or a fight on the ground, so I’m training both sides of it,” she said. “My opponent has a history in grappling and I come from a striking base, but I focused on myself during my training camp.”
A win over Baszler would be huge for Correia, who defeated a fellow ‘Four Horsewomen’ Jessamyn Duke at UFC 172. The Brazilian sent a message to the group after her last win, and plans to do it again at UFC 177.
“That’s so spontaneous I can’t even tell you right now what I’m going to do, but I will do something,” she said with a smile. “I like to feel the moment and let it flow. I will certainly do something after the fight, so I’ll prepare a surprise for them.”
With a perfect 9-0 record, “Pitbull” sees a match-up with Rousey as an inevitable move after a third UFC victory this weekend.
“I’m not in the UFC to be just another fighter. I will get to the title one way or the other,” she said. “I will get there. I want a title shot and I will get there by talking or fighting – or both. I want the title and nobody can stop me.
“I think I deserve a title shot. I will be 3-0 in the UFC with another win. That’s my dream and that’s what I’m fighting for. Let them decide. If they think I deserve it, I will honor this chance and do a great show.”
Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey stopped Alexis Davis in 16 seconds in her last title defense, improving to 4-0 with four finishes under the UFC banner. Correia doesn’t feel she has faced easy opponents, but fighters that haven’t really challenged her yet.
“I think they lack of confidence,” Correia said. “Ronda believes in herself, and the others get in there afraid of her. I’m not. I’m not afraid of her.
“It’s not that she’s better than the opponents she’s fought, but they don’t believe in themselves. Her look shows it. They don’t feel they are better than Ronda. Ronda has this aura that she’s unbeatable. She needs to face someone that looks into her eyes and says ‘you can’t beat me.’
“Everything I do, I do with confidence. I’m not saying I’m better than anyone. She can be more technical than me, but it doesn’t make me feel less confident in myself. I 100 percent believe in everything I do.”
“I was training to fight [at UFC 176], and I was ready, but they changed the dates and made me hungrier than ever to fight and do what I have to do,” Correia told MMAFighting.com. “I had more time to prepare, and I’m going to take it out on her [laughs].”
Baszler makes her Octagon debut against Correia on the Aug. 30 card with a 15-8 record, mostly with submission victories. Correia went the distance in the majority of her professional career, and it’s no secret that she wants to keep it standing.
“It’s a MMA fight. You can’t guarantee that it’s going to be a striking battle or a fight on the ground, so I’m training both sides of it,” she said. “My opponent has a history in grappling and I come from a striking base, but I focused on myself during my training camp.”
A win over Baszler would be huge for Correia, who defeated a fellow ‘Four Horsewomen’ Jessamyn Duke at UFC 172. The Brazilian sent a message to the group after her last win, and plans to do it again at UFC 177.
“That’s so spontaneous I can’t even tell you right now what I’m going to do, but I will do something,” she said with a smile. “I like to feel the moment and let it flow. I will certainly do something after the fight, so I’ll prepare a surprise for them.”
With a perfect 9-0 record, “Pitbull” sees a match-up with Rousey as an inevitable move after a third UFC victory this weekend.
“I’m not in the UFC to be just another fighter. I will get to the title one way or the other,” she said. “I will get there. I want a title shot and I will get there by talking or fighting – or both. I want the title and nobody can stop me.
“I think I deserve a title shot. I will be 3-0 in the UFC with another win. That’s my dream and that’s what I’m fighting for. Let them decide. If they think I deserve it, I will honor this chance and do a great show.”
Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey stopped Alexis Davis in 16 seconds in her last title defense, improving to 4-0 with four finishes under the UFC banner. Correia doesn’t feel she has faced easy opponents, but fighters that haven’t really challenged her yet.
“I think they lack of confidence,” Correia said. “Ronda believes in herself, and the others get in there afraid of her. I’m not. I’m not afraid of her.
“It’s not that she’s better than the opponents she’s fought, but they don’t believe in themselves. Her look shows it. They don’t feel they are better than Ronda. Ronda has this aura that she’s unbeatable. She needs to face someone that looks into her eyes and says ‘you can’t beat me.’
“Everything I do, I do with confidence. I’m not saying I’m better than anyone. She can be more technical than me, but it doesn’t make me feel less confident in myself. I 100 percent believe in everything I do.”
