Bethe Correia

Bethe Correia
Born (1983-06-22) June 22, 1983
Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil
Other names Pitbull
Residence Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Nationality Brazilian
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)[1]
Weight 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st)
Division Bantamweight
Reach 64.0 in (163 cm)[2]
Style BJJ, Kickboxing, Wrestling, Kung Fu, Jujitsu, Sanda
Fighting out of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Team

Pitbull Brothers MMA

American Kickboxing Academy (AKA)
Rank Purple sash in Kung Fu[1]
Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[1]
Years active 2012–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 12
Wins 10
By knockout 2
By decision 8
Losses 2
By knockout 1
By decision 1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Bethe Correia (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈbɛtʃi koˈʁejɐ]; born June 22, 1983) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's women's bantamweight division.

Early life

Bethe Correia was born in Campina Grande, Paraiba. She graduated from college with a degree in accounting, but gradually found that she was "too hyperactive for office work".[3] While practicing Sanda, Correia concluded that fighting provided what had been "missing" in her life, and sought to compete in mixed martial arts (MMA).[1][3]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Correia studied a number of techniques at the onset of her MMA career, including jiu-jitsu, Sanda, and amateur wrestling.[1] She would eventually develop a preference for striking, particularly boxing and kickboxing.[1][4]

She made her professional MMA debut in her native Brazil in May 2012, defeating Daniela Maria da Silva by unanimous decision at the First Fight: Revelations show. Training with the "Pitbull" brothers, Patrício and Patricky Freire, she won her first six fights within 13 months.[3]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In October 2013, Correia signed a multi-fight deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[5] Correia noted, "Being in the UFC is having the chance to fight with the best in the world and accept big challenges. It's the dream of any fighter."[1]

Correia made her promotional debut the following December as she faced MMA veteran Julie Kedzie at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Bigfoot.[6] At the time, Correia had fought in six professional bouts, while Kedzie had competed in 28.[3] Correia won the fight via split decision.[7]

She then faced Jessamyn Duke on April 26, 2014 at UFC 172. Despite her reach disadvantage, Correia used quick striking to out-point Duke, and closed the gap by backing Duke toward the cage.[4] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[7]

Correia faced Shayna Baszler on August 30, 2014 at UFC 177.[8] After escaping a submission attempt in the first round, Correia became more aggressive with her striking and won by TKO at 1:56 of round 2.[9]

Bantamweight title shot

Following her third consecutive win in the UFC, Correia was challenged by former Strikeforce bantamweight champions Sarah Kaufman and Miesha Tate.[10][11] "A lot of girls from the UFC roster want a bout with me," Correia noted.[11] She initially expressed interest in fighting Kaufman, but later stated that she was focused on getting a title shot against then-UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. "I want to face the champion," she said.[11]

After her earlier victory over Duke, a member of Rousey's informal "Four Horsewomen" stable, Correia began campaigning for a title shot against Rousey, holding four fingers to the camera and symbolically putting one down. She did likewise after beating Horsewoman Baszler.[12] In March 2015, UFC officials confirmed that Correia would fight Rousey for the title on August 1, 2015, at UFC 190.[13]

Despite the fact that Rousey had finished all but one of her previous fights within a round, Correia displayed much confidence heading into the bout, stating that she planned to give Rousey the worst beating of her career.[14] Subsequently, Correia lost the fight by knockout in only 34 seconds of the first round.[15]

Post title shot

Following UFC 190, Correia expressed interest in bouts with Miesha Tate and Jessica Eye, but claimed that both women had declined.[16][17] Eye denied the claim and offered to fight Correia in Spring 2016.[18] In April 2016, Correia fought Raquel Pennington at UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans, losing via split decision. Correia defeated Jessica Eye by split decision at UFC 203 on September 10, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio.[19]

Fighting style

Correia is a striker who largely uses boxing and grappling techniques. She is recognized for her punching combinations, counter strikes, spinning back fists, and aggressive right hands.[4][20] During her fight against Jessamyn Duke, she led by 100 strikes to Duke's 55.[4]

Correia is known for her use of dirty boxing and cutting off the cage. While clinching, she will usually move the fight toward the fence and attack with flurries.[21][22] At UFC 172, she used this technique to negate Jessamyn Duke's reach; she later used it to earn her stoppage against Shayna Baszler.[9]

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 10–2 Jessica Eye Decision (split) UFC 203 September 10, 2016 3 5:00 Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Loss 9–2 Raquel Pennington Decision (split) UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans April 16, 2016 3 5:00 Tampa, Florida, United States
Loss 9–1 Ronda Rousey KO (punch) UFC 190 August 1, 2015 1 0:34 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil For the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship.
Win 9–0 Shayna Baszler TKO (punches) UFC 177 August 30, 2014 2 1:56 Sacramento, California, United States
Win 8–0 Jessamyn Duke Decision (unanimous) UFC 172 April 26, 2014 3 5:00 Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Win 7–0 Julie Kedzie Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Bigfoot December 7, 2013 3 5:00 Brisbane, Australia
Win 6–0 Erica Paes Decision (unanimous) Jungle Fight 54 June 29, 2013 3 5:00 Barra do Piraí, Brazil
Win 5–0 Juliete de Souza TKO (punches) WCC — W-Combat 17 June 1, 2013 2 N/A Macapá, Brazil
Win 4–0 Anne Karoline Decision (unanimous) Bokum Fight Championship April 12, 2013 3 5:00 Aracaju, Brazil
Win 3–0 Elaine Albuquerque Decision (unanimous) Heat FC 4 — The Return October 18, 2012 3 5:00 Natal, Brazil
Win 2–0 Daniely dos Santos Decision (unanimous) Fort MMA 2 — Higo vs. Kevin July 27, 2012 3 5:00 Mossoró, Brazil
Win 1–0 Daniela da Silva Decision (unanimous) First Fight: Revelations May 31, 2012 3 5:00 Parnamirim, Brazil

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Bethe Correia - Official UFC Fighter Profile". UFC.com. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Fight Card - UFC 177 Dillashaw vs. Soto". UFC.com. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Erickson, Matt (2013-12-06). "Bethe Correia playing numbers game, and hopes UFC debut win is in the cards". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Martin, Damon (2014-04-26). "UFC 172 Fight blog recap". FoxSports.com. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  5. ↑ "UFC signs Sergio Pettis and Bethe Correia". bloodyelbow.com. October 1, 2013.
  6. ↑ "UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Bigfoot". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  7. 1 2 "Bethe 'Pitbull' Correia". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
  8. ↑ Matt Erickson (2014-07-08). "Shayna Baszler vs. Bethe Correia moves from UFC 176 to UFC 177 in Sacramento". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-07-08.
  9. 1 2 Thomas, Luke (2014-04-26). "UFC 172 undercard live blog: Benavidez vs. Elliott, more". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  10. ↑ Zidan, Karim (2015-01-10). "Bethe Correia excited by Sarah Kaufman callout: I will beat her or anyone else by first-round knockout". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
  11. 1 2 3 Arbex, Fernando (2015-02-05). "Bethe Correia not interested in Miesha Tate fight: 'She wants the spotlight again'". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
  12. ↑ "Year in the making, Rousey to face Correia at UFC 190", by Dave Deibert, PostMedia News
  13. ↑ Guilherme Cruz (2015-03-19). "Ronda Rousey vs. Bethe Correia targeted for UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2015-03-19.
  14. ↑ Cepeda, Elias (2015-06-03). "Bethe Correia: Ronda Rousey is a farce". FoxSports.com. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
  15. ↑ Damon Martin (2015-08-02). "UFC 190: Ronda Rousey face plants Bethe Correia with 34-second knockout". foxsports.com. Retrieved 2015-08-02.
  16. ↑ Cruz, Guilherme (2015-12-02). "Bethe Correia Wants To Retire Miesha Tate: 'I will make your wish come true, Miesha'". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  17. ↑ Holland, Jesse (2015-12-17). "Bethe Correia: Jessica Eye Rejected UFC Pittsburgh Fight Because She Wants To Do Movies". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  18. ↑ Guillen, Adam (2015-12-23). "Jessica Eye denies turning down UFC fight against 'alligator mouth' Bethe Correia". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
  19. ↑ Staff (2016-06-11). "Report: Cleveland-based Jessica Eye targeted for fight with Bethe Correia at UFC 203". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-06-21.
  20. ↑ "UFC Fight Night 33 Play-By-Play: Julie Kedzie Vs. Bethe Correia". mmaweekly.com. 2013-12-06. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  21. ↑ Winfree, Robert (2014-08-31). "411's UFC 177: Dillashaw vs. Soto Report 8.30.14". 411mania.com. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  22. ↑ Csonka, Larry (2014-04-27). "411's UFC 172: Jones vs. Teixeira Report 4.26.14". 411mania.com. Retrieved 2015-03-12.

External links

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