The UFC 190 event scheduled for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Aug. 1 will feature a UFC ladies bantamweight title defense for Ronda Rousey as she faces undefeated (9-0) Brazilian Bethe Correia.
For Rousey, it marks her second title defense of 2015, and fifth overall. Correia is (3-0) in the UFC and was last seen in August of 2014, where she made short work of veteran Shanya Baszler, and she is fighting at home, but do not expect Correia to come in as less than a (+750) underdog when the line opens.
Rousey made an appearance last weekend at Wrestlemania 31, appearing for an in-ring segment opposite the Rock and Stephanie McMahon where she looked every bit the dominant ass-kicker she is in real life. But that was apparently one of Rousey’s public appearances, as she stated she will not be going to the WWE and has in fact re-signed a long term deal with the UFC. Despite a crowded calendar of appearances such as the one last Sunday at Wrestlemania, Rousey has continued to establish herself as one of the most dominant fighters of all time. In her last outing, she took just 14 seconds to stop Cat Zingano, who had appeared a credible opponent. In 2014, she spent a grand total of one minute and 22 seconds dispatching Alexis Davis and Sara McMann.
Aside from Rousey’s re-signing with the UFC, the world’s biggest MMA promotion also announced that they had entered into a contract agreement with Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, who will continue fighting in Invicta as she attempts to make 135 lbs. Until “Cyborg” has performed at 135 lbs and is ready to face Rousey, “Rowdy” Ronda is going to be heavily favored over anyone on the UFC roster.
Rousey is such a big star now that few recall the “Four Horsewomen” stable around Rousey’s “TUF” reality show appearance that saw the champion lead a group that included Jessamyn Duke and Shanya Baszler (the fourth member was Marina Shafir). Two of Correia’s UFC wins have come against Baszler and Duke and she has been very vocal about looking for a shot a tthe title and Rousey. You have to give Correia credit for wanting the fight and pursuing it, but she is unlikely to be the fighter that slows Rousey down. Just making it to the second round at this point would be a moral victory for Correia.
