Correia misdirects frustration for fight removal over eye issue
CSAC executive director Andy Foster: “The promotion determined Correia was unfit to fight. The UFC has pulled her off the card, which they’re entitled to do as a promoter.”
UFC women’s bantamweight Bethe Correia was removed from a fight vs. Irene Aldana at UFC 227 over an eye issue. She then expressed her considerable frustration on the social network.
“I traveled to Los Angeles for the UFC with great excitement and as I hadn’t been fighting for more than a year, I did everything in the highest discipline so that nothing could go wrong,” she posted on Instagram. “I was feeling more prepared than ever with new fighting repertoires and physically stronger. However, I was surprised by the California Athletic Commission, stating that I couldn’t fight on Saturday because of vision problems.
“I came aware of my eyes issues. I went through several ophthalmologists part of the Brazilian Society of Ophthalmology. I took care of my health and my eye integrity, even being released by the doctors before the trip. I have current reports from 3 doctors who have been following me since the beginning, reporting that I am released to fight.
“I acted with dignity! I’ve been, and I’m loyal! I’m fully aware that I can train and compete! Retinal displacement is a common problem in a contact sport, and many fighters have had it, that is so true that in my last five MMA fights, I had already undergone retinal detachment surgery, including the one against Ronda competing for the world title in 2015. I’ve never been rejected by any commission, and I’ve fought in several different countries with the same problem, only here in California” the land of the dreams” they destroyed mine to make my triumphant comeback this Saturday. … I apologize to everyone for the words, but this situation, in my whole career, is being the most difficult one.”
However, the removal came not at the direction of CSAC, but from the UFC.
California State Athletic Commission executive officer Andy Foster told MMAjunkie that, the promotion determined Correia was unfit to fight. The UFC has pulled her off the card, which they’re entitled to do as a promoter.”
Correia had been on a nine-fight win streak heading into a title shot vs. then division champion Ronda Rousey, but has gone 1-3-1 since. Most recently, Correia lost via head kick KO to Holly Holm at UFC Fight Night 111 over a year ago.
