Bethe Correia might be the underdog, but she’s not backing down.
The challenger got right in Ronda Rousey’s grill when the two faced off at media day Thursday. And Correia had a few words for the champion in her native Portuguese.
“I’ll beat you up,” Correia said, translated into English. “I’ll put my hand in your face. I will knock you out.”
Rousey defends her women’s bantamweight title against Correia in the main event of UFC 190 on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro. Rousey, undefeated with all finishes on her record, is as high as a 17-to-1 favorite. But Correia, undefeated as well, is not lacking for confidence if her body language during fight week would attest. Even her home Brazilian crowd openly cheering — and adoring — Rousey has not shaken Correia.
During the faceoff, Correia put her hands on her hips and started jawing at Rousey. Rousey put her fist near Correia’s face and Correia waved her on. Then Correia put her first near Rousey’s jaw, all the while still talking. Rousey just stood there, stoic, staring directly into Correia’s eyes.
The co-main event pits former PRIDE rivals Mauricio Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira against one another. Also on the card, legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira makes his return against Stefan Struve.