The legend of Ronda Rousey continues to grow.
The UFC women’s bantamweight champion took it to brawler Bethe Correia on Saturday night in the main event of UFC 190 and beat her at her own game.
Rousey dropped Correia with a monster right hand to the temple, causing Correia to faceplant to the mat. Rousey retained her title via knockout at the 34-second mark of the opening round.
“It kind of went how we expected it,” said Rousey (12-0).
Rousey overwhelmed Correia at the outset, rushing out and initiating the striking. She knocked Correia backwards with a shot, and though she got to her feet, Rousey was ready. Rousey mixed up body shots, punch combos, and knees before delivering the kill shot. She even added a left hand to the face as Correia was landing as a final touch.
“Instead of trying to force the finish, I decided to overwhelm her with striking first so she’d want to clinch first, and that’s exactly what happened,” Rousey said.
The win added to a remarkable run for Rousey, who has defeated each of her past three foes in under one minute. Eleven of her 12 victories have come in the first round and all 12 wins are finishes.
In the leadup to the fight, Correia drew Rousey’s ire by making a joke about Rousey and suicide. Rousey’s father, Ron, committed suicide when Rousey was eight years old.
“I hope no one brings up my family anymore when it comes to fights,” Rousey said. “I hope this is the last time.”
Rousey dedicated the victory to her nicknamesake, wrestler “Rowdy” Roddy Piper,” who passed away on Friday.
“We lost a good friend yesterday in “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, who gave me permission to use his name as a fighter, so I hope him and my father were watching him tonight,” Rousey said.