Bethe: I won’t allow Rousey to retire undefeated

Being a professional fighter is about more than fighting – you have to know how to engage the paying fanbase. Bethe Correia knows how to play the game.

She is systematically and very publicly going through the Four Horsewomen, beating Jessamyn Duke by decision, and Shayna Baszler by RSC. With Marina Shafir not signed by the UFC, and fighting at 145, all that is left is a shot at UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

My dream is to become the champion, and I will get this belt, Correia recently said to John Morgan for MMAjunkie. I am an undefeated UFC employee, and when they schedule my fight against Ronda, I’ll still be undefeated – and I’ll retire undefeated. I will not allow her to retire undefeated. I am telling you that I will fight her and win.

Correia referenced the gesture that began it, when after beating Duke, she held up four fingers, before dropping one.

I didn’t imagine that big repercussion, but I knew that I would annoy her and call the attention of the champion and the media,” said Correia. “Because, for me, the division was kind of slow. So it was just a matter of taking advantage of the situation and trying to be on the spot.

“I represent the new generation of MMA. I am trained for any circumstance. I don’t have only one specific martial art like Gina Carano, for instance, has Muay Thai and Holly Holm has boxing. They are trying to be better in other martial arts. I started training MMA, so I am a survival athlete. My style does not let my opponent put me in any dangerous situation.

“I have a confidence in myself above the normal, and I feel prepared now and anytime. If they schedule this fight for tomorrow, I am in, and I’ll be prepared to fight and to win.”

For me, one of the reasons why Ronda is winning so easily is that her opponents enter the octagon afraid of her, thinking that she is a ‘super woman,’ and she is not. She is a fighter as much as I am. So this makes Ronda seem stronger.”

I have a faith above normal. I think that’s what makes champions – the willpower – and I can guarantee that mine is the highest.

I am in a moment where the only thing I see is my dream and my goal. I don’t enter the octagon thinking that I can beat that girl or win that fight; I enter with the certainty that I will beat that opponent. I am sure that Ronda knows who she will face. When we face off, I am sure that she will respect me because she will know that she is facing someone on her level.”

During a recent media event in Brazil, Rousey said she wanted to fight Correia, too.

“I think it was extremely intelligent of her,” said Rousey of Correia’s call outs. “And I think it’s one of the things that was missing in women’s MMA before I came along. I am glad that the girls are taking the hint, and making things a lot more interesting for the fans.

“I think that a backstory and story lines are extremely important, because the fight becomes more than just who is athletically better. It becomes about who is right. Then the fans pick favorites and it becomes personal for the fans as well.

“I think it’s very smart what she’s doing. She’s not going to get away with it, but it’s very intelligent.”

It does however look as if the next challenger for Rousey’s title will be Cat Zingano, if she can get by Amanda Nunes next weekend at UFC 178, live in PPV.