Rousey, Correia's short but bitter rivalry

At UFC 190, UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and Bethe Correia will settle more than just a title fight in the main event.  The two undefeated fighters have, in a short period of time, built up a bitter and heated rivalry.  Here is a short history of hate between the two skilled fighters.

April 26, 2014

Bethe Correia vs. Jessamyn Duke

At UFC 172, Correia fought and defeated Rousey's teammate and friend Duke via unanimous decision at the Baltimore, Maryland event.  Following the fight, the Brazilian fighter held up four fingers before lowering one, indicating that she had defeated the first of the Four Horsewomen (the name of Rousey's group of fighters).

"They were tweeting and provoking me all the time," Correia said through a translator after the fight. "One of them is called a 'weapon' in Brazil, the way we translate it, and I just want to say that I'm bulletproof."

August 30, 2014

Bethe Correia vs. Shayna Baszler

Correia took on another of the Four Horsewomen at UFC 177 (The fourth member Marina Shafir fights in the featherweight division and is not in the UFC), punching Baszler out to earn a second round TKO victory.

After the fight Correia pointed at the camera and made the championship belt motion, then held up her hand lowering two fingers to indicate she had defeated another of Rousey's teammates.

"I want to leave a message for Ronda," Correia said through a translator. "I'm the one that's going to take that belt. I'm the one that's going to beat Ronda."

After the event, UFC President Dana White told reporters that Rousey jumped at the chance to face Correia, but he did not commit to making it her next bout.

"As soon as (Bethe) started talking, she texted me 'I want that fight, I want it now,'" said White after the event. "'I want it before someone else beats her,' and I said, 'Calm down, lady. You've got other people to fight. We'll figure it out.'

September 13, 2014

UFC Fight Night 51

Rousey Responds

Addressing reporters at the UFC Fight Night 51 event in Brasilia, Brazil, the bantamweight champion not only said she wanted to the fight, but she was willing to do it in Correia's backyard.

"I want to fight Bethe," said Rousey. "I would love to fight Bethe in Brazil, actually, I think that would be an amazing event and I want to be part of it."

"I think it's extremely intelligent of her," said Rousey of the way Correia called her out. "I think it's one of the things that was missing in women's MMA before I came along and I'm glad the girls are taking the hint and making themselves a lot more interesting for the fans."

November 29, 2014

Correia on the Warpath

In an interview with MMAFighting.com Correia calls her shot.

"I will knock Ronda out in the first round," Correia told MMAFighting.com.  "I want her to beat Zingano fast and without injuries, so we can fight right after. I want to be the one to take her title."

February 28, 2015

Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano

After dispatching previously undefeated Zingano in a UFC championship fight record 14 seconds, Rousey immediately set her sights on Correia.

"Bethe Correia, she's undefeated, I'd like to take that 0 away from her," said Rousey.

March 20, 2015

UFC Makes it Official

At an event at Rio de Janeiro's Maracanazinho Gym, Dana White confirmed that Rousey and Correia would fight for the bantamweight title on August 1st in Rio de Janeiro.

"I don't just want to defeat her," said Rousey after the announcement. "I want her to leave that arena embarrassed. And the best way to do it is to come here and to beat her in her own backyard."

"I'm going to beat Ronda," said Correia. "I'm going to make her feel the weight of my hands. I promise this to you. I'm going to beat her for you. This belt belongs to you and it's going to be here in Brazil, because she's coming here and she's going to leave the belt here, at home, for you. This is what I'm going to give you, the crowd."

May 27, 2015

Correia Crosses the Line

In an interview with Combate, Correia made a comment that hit too close to home for Rousey.

MMAMania.com reported a translated version of her comments.

"She is not mentally healthy, she needs to take care of herself," said Correia. "She is winning, so everybody is around her cheering her up, but when she realizes she is not everything that she believes she is, I don't know what might happen. I hope she does not kill herself later on."

Rousey took issue with the final line of the interview because her father committed suicide when she was eight and she felt that it was a personal shot at her tragic loss.

Correia later took the comments back, saying she had no idea about Rousey's father.

June 30, 2015

Reebok UFC Fight Kit Unveiling

Rousey spoke to MMAFighting's Ariel Helwani and was still not over the comments Correia made, once again vowing to convincingly win the fight.

"I don't buy it at all," said Rousey. "There's no way that she could know all these more obscure things about my life and not know about one of the most significant events (that) ever happened in my life. I don't know if I'm more offended by what she said or her phony apology to save face for herself -- which wasn't even an apology. She just complimented herself, called herself humble and asked for forgiveness, I mean that's not an apology."

"No, this fight is becoming extremely personal to me and I never wanted to beat someone so badly in my life. And I'm definitely not going to finish her off quickly, I'm going to make sure that she remembers every second of that day."

July 22, 2015

The Final Lap

As we approach the fight, both combatants are getting in final shots at each other.

The undefeated challenger had some advice for Rousey in quotes she gave to Portal do Vale Tudo.

"I would tell her she should enjoy her last month as the champion," said Correia.

The champion meanwhile is plotting out how she is going to end the fight for maximum punishment.

"Some things take longer," said Rousey. "Like a choke takes longer than an arm bar, or a TKO takes longer than a choke. So, I might go for the prolonged finish, instead but they all begin at the same point."