Ronda Rousey took her time securing her sixth UFC title defense Saturday against Bethe Correia at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro.
Well, sort of, at least.
It took Rousey 34 seconds to score a violent knockout rarely seen in the division. By comparison, she needed 14 seconds to submit Cat Zingano and 16 to score a knockout of Alexis Davis.
Still, Rousey took care of business in shocking fashion, playing to her opponent’s strengths and still emerging the sport’s top force. The ripple effect will prove vast, so after a look at the main card’s results, let’s look at some of the storylines to watch.
UFC Main Card 190 Results
Storylines to Watch After UFC 190
Bethe Correia‘s Bright Future
The globe didn’t get to learn much about Correia on Saturday, which is a shame given her immense talent and bright future.
Correia did the smart thing against Rousey, feeling out the opponent and attempting to step into the trading game, her strength. It failed, of course, but it was better than not entering the Octagon at all.
ESPN.com’s Brett Okamoto captured the challenger’s thoughts on the quick finish:
I think she felt my strikes. She tried to grab me. I defended takedowns. Those things happen. Her hands landed. That’s her merit. I fell but I thought I was doing the right game, which was to attack, counterattack, defend takedowns and hit her. In that moment, I slipped. I got up. She connected a good punch. That’s it. That’s fighting.
Still, Correia lasted longer than most and 20 seconds longer than Zingano. It’s just where the sport stands given Rousey‘s jaw-dropping dominance, and as such, it won’t take long for Correia to get back into the No. 1 contender realm.
Remember, she beat Shayna Baszler at UFC 177 via a Round 2 TKO and Jessamyn Duke at UFC 172 via unanimous decision. She’s versatile, and while her best wasn’t good enough, it wouldn’t be hard to sell her as a major threat after a few strong showings.
Speaking of those, it’s easy to see where Correia goes next—down the ladder like the rest. It figures to be temporary, with a bout against Jessica Eye or someone else on the slate.
Regardless, don’t expect Correia to go away anytime soon. Her next move is something to monitor.
Rousey‘s Next Move
It takes someone on a different level to walk into a combat sport, ignore her strength, use her opponent’s and escape with a victory wild enough to stir up a social media frenzy—then walk out like it was just another day at the office.
Whether it was pre-fight trash talk or something else, Rousey walked right in and traded blows, something—in theory—that should have put her at a disadvantage against such a brilliant striker.
Instead, the globe watched in awe as Rousey completed her journey of evolution as a fighter, perhaps staking claim to the most well-rounded fighter in the sport’s history. Dana White put it best, per Fox Sports Live:
So, what’s next?
Another fight with Miesha Tate would make some sense. Remember, the last one went to Round 3 at UFC 168 before the dreaded armbar. Three chances against Rousey seems a bit much for any challenger, but Tate’s won four in a row and represents a serious threat.
Of course, so does one Cristiane Justino. As White notes, via MMAFighting.com, out-of-Octagon things need to come together:
The Cyborg hasn’t lost since 2005 unless one factors in the no-decision from 2011. She represents the fight everyone wants to see and perhaps the best challenge for Rousey, so expect to hear more about the hypothetical matchup if the Cyborg can make it happen.
No matter whom she fights, it’s clear Rousey can win via any approach.
Note: Stats and info courtesy of UFC.com unless otherwise specified.
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