Ronda Rousey Says Fight With Bethe Correia Personal: ‘If You F**k With My Family, You Are F**ked!’
After her latest win against Cat Zingano, many fans feel no woman in the MMA today can stop Ronda Rousey. Such a belief is enforced by the fact that Rousey’s last fight against Zingano lasted only 14 seconds, a record for the quickest title fight in UFC history.
Still, UFC fans wonder who will be willing to take on the current UFC women’s bantamweight champion. Rumors circulated that it would be Holly Holm. However, that may have to happen at a later date because Ronda Rousey’s next opponent will be Bethe Correia. Not only that, Rousey has made it clear that her fight with Correia is personal.
According to ESPN, Ronda Rousey will fight Bethe Correia at UFC 190 on August 1. The match was made official by UFC president Dana White during a press conference in Rio de Janeiro — the city where UFC 190 will take place — on Friday, March 20. It will also be the headlining fight for the event, held at the HSBC Arena.
Presently, Ronda Rousey is considered the top female fighter in the world with an undefeated streak of 11 wins, nine of which were with her infamous armbar submission. Though Rousey has accolades worth admiring, so does Bethe Correia, who also has an undefeated streak, but two less than Rousey.
What is interesting about this fight is the fact both Ronda Rousey and Bethe Correia have made it very personal. According to Fox Sports, Rousey made a statement that detailed just how personal her fight with Correia is.
“I would definitely say this is a personal fight. My dad had a great saying when somebody needed to be shown what’s up. He would say that this person needs to have a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting and Bethe is going to have her own ‘come to Jesus’ meeting in Brazil. I’m happy to come down here while I discipline this girl.”
Why is the fight personal? It is because of the plan Bethe Correia implemented to get a title shot with Ronda Rousey. Apparently, Correia got her UFC women’s bantamweight title shot by taking out her friends and teammates, Jessamyn Duke and Shayna Baszler, in back-to-back victories.
Ronda Rousey understands Bethe Correia’s methods though she is not okay with it. Rousey also considers Correia’s wins against her friends and teammates as an attack on her family.
“I understand Bethe’s tactics and I understand why she went about things the way she did, but just because I understand it, doesn’t make it OK. The fact is in order to get a title shot as quickly as possible, she disrespected my friends, which I consider my family.”
The fact that Ronda Rousey is very angry going into her next fight is a wildcard. Many fighters have lost because they fought in an emotional state contrary to being focused. With that fact in mind, Bethe Correia might have played Rousey in just a way for her advantage. On the other hand, there are many fighters who become more dangerous with reckless abandon.
Whether or not Bethe Correia used such tactics to not only get her title shot but to throw off Ronda Rousey, the “Rowdy” one has made it clear she is out for blood in the upcoming fight at UFC 190. Rousey’s final statement probably sums up best the atmosphere this fight will surely have.
“If you f**k with my family, you are f***ed. It doesn’t matter. This fight is more than just about an athletic competition. It’s about proving a point and punishing someone.”
[Image via UFC 190 Press Release Promotions]
