Ronda Rousey has certainly created the sport’s most polarizing persona, but there’s no denying the UFC women’s bantamweight champ always takes care of her own.
Bethe Correia stopped Shayna Baszler to score her second straight win over a member of Rousey’s team, The Four Horsewomen, on Saturday at UFC 177.
Minutes after the fight, the former Olympic judoka naturally contacted UFC president Dana White to demand a showdown with the unbeaten Brazilian striker, per Yahoo Sports.
As soon as (Correia) started talking, (Rousey) texted me and said, ‘I want that fight; I want it now,'” White said. “‘I want it before someone else beats her,’ and I said, ‘Calm down, lady. You’ve got other people to fight. We’ll figure it out.’
Ninth-ranked women’s bantamweight Correia fought off an armbar attempt and landed 29 strikes to Baszler’s 14 in the opening round.
The 31-year-old Correia then came out swinging in the second round and finished the seasoned Baszler with an impressive barrage of punches 1:56 into the round.
Four months before besting Baszler, Correia stuffed five of six takedowns and outstruck Jessamyn Duke, 118-70, to earn a unanimous decision and her first win over a member of The Four Horsewomen at UFC 172.
Recognizing her window for an opportunity, Correia offered the following message to Rousey through an interpreter during her post-fight interview at UFC 177, per Yahoo Sports: “I have a message for Ronda Rousey. I want her belt and I’m coming to take it. The belt is going to be mine.”
By speaking up at the ideal moment, Correia proved to White that she’s determined to get the next crack at Rousey. However, the UFC president maintained that the thrashing Correia handed Baszler has gotten her to the title picture, not her post-fight remarks about Rousey.
I don’t think Bethe moves up because of the rivalry. I think Bethe moves up because of what she did tonight. That was crazy. The punches she hit (Baszler) with, I haven’t seen anything like that since (Phil) Baroni (vs. Dave) Menne. She looked good tonight. That’s what’s going to get her a fight with Rousey.
Correia improved to 3-0 in the UFC and 9-0 overall with her win over Baszler. Seven of Correia’s nine wins have come by form of decision.
Rowdy has amassed a 10-0 record since making her pro debut in March 2011. Rousey has finished seven foes with first-round armbars and another with a third-round armbar and has won by first-round KO/TKO in each of her last two bouts.
While UFC matchmakers have yet to determine her next opponent, according to the UFC on Fox, Rousey said she would like to fight on the Jan. 3 card, which includes the light heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier.
In her last outing, Rousey mauled Alexis Davis with a 16-second KO at UFC 175 in July. For her efforts, Rousey pocketed her second straight “Performance of the Night” bonus.
All stats gathered via FightMetric.
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