Rousey gifts UFC belt to Brazilian Judo school
Ronda Rousey: “Bethe Corrreia said that the Brazilian people deserve to have the belt left here. So I’m going to give it and make sure that it stays someplace in Brazil.”
In September UFC women’s bantamweight Ronda Rousey visited Instituto Reacao in Rio de Janeiro. the Judo school of Olympic bronze medallist Flavio Canto. She left behind some cool videos and warm memories.
This time she left her UFC championship belt.
‘Rowdy’ had vowed she would leave it in special place in Brazil, if she beat challenger Bethe Correia at UFC 190.
“Bethe did have one thing right,” said Rousey before the fight. “She said that the Brazilian people deserve to have the belt left here. So I’ve decided that after I win it, I’m going to make sure that when I have the belt, I don’t take it home with me. I’m going to give it and make sure that it stays someplace in Brazil as my gift.”
She won, and Instituto Reacao is a special place, so the promise was kept. Further, Rousey has long expressed appreciation for Brazilian combat sports fans as Brazil was the only place she was ever cheered when competing internationally in Judo.