Ahead of her ‘UFC Fight Night: Fortaleza’ scrap against Marion Reneau tonight, Bethe Correia is looking for an eventual rematch with Ronda Rousey after she found herself knocked out in just 34 seconds by the former champ two years ago.
Leading up to that fight, Correia was hailed as the most dangerous fighter Rousey had ever fought given her impressive knockout power. When the pair finally stepped in the Octagon in August of 2015, it took under a minute for Rousey to knock Correia out cold in what was one of the most destructive WMMA knockouts in history.
Rousey went on to lose her next fight, the first of her professional career, when she was knocked out by Holly Holm. After unsuccessfully attempting to return to the Octagon at the end of 2016, it was revealed by UFC President Dana White that Rousey was likely done with fighting, and would most likely be looking to focus on her acting career.
With that being said, ahead of her scrap with Reneau, Correia spoke to MMAFighting to discuss the return of Rousey, and her desire to avenge her rematch to the former champ.
“I really didn’t know how Ronda would return,” Correia told MMA Fighting of Rousey’s title fight with Nunes. “I think she had the skills to fight Amanda and win, but I didn’t know how she would be. A fight is not just about what you train, half of the fight is your head. You can have the best camp or your life but you’re not mentally there, nothing works.”
“I’m her rival, I’m her enemy in the sport and in the personal area for everything that happened between us, but even enemies respect each other,” the Brazilian said. “The way she lost, I felt what she felt. It was similar to what I went through, a sub-minute loss, being caught in a way that you lose control.
“I hope she would come back because I want a rematch with her,” Correia said. “We have unfinished business, things to settle. But I believe she won’t come back. I always said she was too vain and wasn’t mentally strong to lose. I think he vanity was an issue against Amanda. She thought she could go back and trade with her. She’s too vain to accept the defeat and start over. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll have the rematch, but I’d love that.”
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This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/11/2017.