RIO DE JANEIRO – Ronda Rousey made threats that she would prolong her fight against Bethe Correia as a way of punishing the challenger. But then the fight started. So much for that.
Rousey (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) knocked out Correia (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) in just 34 seconds to retain her bantamweight title. It was her third straight win in less than a minute, with the previous two coming in 16 seconds and 14 seconds.
The women’s bantamweight title bout was the main event of today’s UFC 190 event at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Rousey came forward quickly throwing punches. She landed, and clinched up with Correia. Correia went to her back and Rousey pounced. When Correia got back to her feet, the champion poured it on and knocked Correia out cold, dropping her face-first to the canvas with a right hand to the temple. Referee John McCarthy was in quickly to shut it down – in just 34 seconds.
“It kind of went how we expected,” Rousey said. “I planned to, instead of trying to force a clinch, was overwhelm her with striking first to force her to clinch – and that’s exactly what happened.
“I hope that nobody really brings up my family anymore when it comes to fights. I hope this is the last time.”
There was bad blood between Rousey and Correia that went way back. Correia defeated two of Rousey’s teammates on her way to calling out the champion. Then, after she got the title fight, she stirred up trouble with Rousey by saying she should kill herself after losing to her. Rousey’s father committed suicide when she was eight years old.
In the 34 seconds of fight time, Correia did manage to get a few punches off. But once Rousey kept pushing forward, the end appeared to be merely a formality – something fans have become accustomed to with Rousey’s fights.
Of her 11 professional wins, 10 have come in the first round. Only her rematch with Miesha Tate in 2013 lasted past the first. In that one, Rousey submitted Tate quickly into the third round with her trademark armbar – a move she has used just once her past four fights.
Tate likely is up next for Rousey. The former Strikeforce champ first fought Rousey in that promotion in 2012, when Rousey took her title with a first-round armbar. Their bad blood hasn’t stopped, including coaching stints opposite each other on “The Ultimate Fighter” before their rematch at UFC 168. A week ago, Tate beat Jessica Eye in the UFC on FOX 16 co-main event to set up a third fight with the champion.
But Rousey said leading into her fight with Correia that despite the historical grudge with Tate, it was Correia that likely had the crown as the opponent to anger her the most thanks to her comments about her personal and family life. And for that, Rousey took just 34 seconds to make her pay on Saturday in Brazil.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 190 results include:
- Ronda Rousey def. Bethe Correia via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:34
- Mauricio Rua def. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Glaico Franca def. Fernando Bruno via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 4:46
- Reginaldo Vieira def. Dileno Lopes via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Stefan Struve def. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Antonio Silva def. Soa Palelei via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 0:41
- Claudia Gadelha def. Jessica Aguilar via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Demian Maia def. Neil Magny via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:52
- Patrick Cummins def. Rafael Cavalcante via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 0:45
- Warlley Alves def. Nordine Taleb via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 4:11
- Iuri Alcantara def. Leandro Issa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
- Vitor Miranda def. Clint Hester via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 2:38
- Guido Cannetti def. Hugo Viana via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
For complete coverage of UFC 190, check out the UFC Events section of the site.
(MMAjunkie’s John Morgan and Mike Bohn contributed to this report on site in Brazil.)
