To say that UFC fighter Ronda Rousey is a superstar would be the understatement of the decade. Since she stepped into the UFC in 2010, Ronda Rousey has meticulously and brilliantly taken on all comers in the field as a dominant, competitive force in the world of women fighters. She’s taken on the acting world with roles in Entourage, Furious 7 and The Expendables 3. In the recent issue of Cosmopolitan , she discusses how she struggled with body image issues as everyone has at one point or another in their lives, and how gaining an extra 15 pounds when she isn’t fighting makes her feel more attractive. At UFC190 August 1 in Rio de Janeiro, Ronda Rousey will will be taking on Bethe Correia, a Brazilian brawler who, like Rousey, also has an unbeaten record.
Ronda Rousey remains unbeaten in all her previous matchups with UFC and is the current UFC Women’s Bantamweight champion, in addition to being the first Women’s Bantamweight champ that the organization ever had. In addition to her incredible record with UFC, Ronda Rousey is also an Olympic-level judoka and is the daughter of judo world champion AnnMaria De Mars. But it is Bethe Correia ‘s offhand remarks about being concerned that Ronda Rousey may kill herself following the defeat that she believes she will hand the UFC champ that has made UFC190 particularly personal for Rousey.
Rousey’s dad, Ron, killed himself when Ronda Rousey was only 8, and Rousey has vowed to teach the Brazilian a lesson in the wake of these remarks. She has even gone so far as to write “My lovely father” on her hand wraps.
Rousey immediately took to Twitter following the comments. Shortly after, Correia said she had no idea what happened to Rousey’s father and asked for forgiveness.
@RondaRousey Never knew what happened to ur dad.I’m humble enough to ask u for forgiveness. Family is a godly bless to me. See u in #UFC190
— Bethe (@bethecorreia) May 28, 2015
Correia, however, is not backing down from any intimidation factor that facing a champion like Ronda Rousey might pose. During the media day July 30, when Correia and Ronda Rousey squared off with each other for the media to snap their last few shots before the real action August 1 at UFC190, she told Rousey in Portuguese, “I’ll beat you up. I’ll put my hand in your face. I will knock you out.”
During her jawing, though, Ronda Rousey simply stared stoically at Correia , meeting the Brazilian fighter’s gaze squarely. That does not mean, however, that Rousey does not feel any pressure whatsoever. She said that this fight was putting the most pressure on her as a fighter and was stunned that Correia said she felt no pressure in going into the fight at UFC190 .
“She said: ‘I have no pressure on me. No one expects anything out of me, and that’s an advantage.’ So you’re saying you do the best with less pressure? That’s what’s best for you? You’re not meant for this life. You’re not. The more pressure there is, I fight above myself. I’ve never been under more pressure in my life, and I’m going to show the world what I’m really made of.”
Ronda Rousey is looking forward to taking on Correia and demonstrating why she continues to reign as the UFC Women’s Bantamweight champ, and the UFC has also expressed their support of their female superstar.
Ronda’s life schedule: beat up Bethe, take a couple weeks to rest, beat up Miesha, start filming a movie then beat up next chick. ?? ???????
— UFC (@ufc) July 27, 2015
[Photo courtesy of FoxSports]
