Bethe Correia will enter her UFC 190 title fight with bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey as one of the biggest underdogs in mixed martial arts history. But the undefeated Brazilian challenger has no lack of confidence.
The way Correia (9-0) sees it, Rousey is just another American hype job.
“They’ve built her up to be this invincible fighter from the United States that no one is going to be able to beat,” Correia said at Wednesday’s open workouts in Rio de Janeiro. “I’m going to show that’s a farce, and I’m going to beat her.”
All 11 of Rousey’s opponents have been finished, nine of them by way of her signature armbar submission, but Correia remains unfazed, saying that there’s no way she becomes the next victim.
“She knows she’s not going to be able to finish me, so that’s what she’s saying,” Correia says. “That’s her justifiable way of saying she’s not going to be able to finish me early. She knows she’s not going to be able to finish me, so I’ll finish her.”
A confident Correia believes that her standup game will be what knocks the mighty Rousey from her throne.
“I believe in myself,” Correia says. “I’m going to go in there and beat her. I think I can overcome all her strong points. Her weaknesses? I’m not even worried about that. I know what I need to do in there. She doesn’t trade punches. In 11 fights, she’s never really shown her boxing, so I’m going to go in there and box with her.”