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Ronda Rousey gets Miesha Tate next after 34-second knockout

Rousey’s wrath overpowers trash-talking Bethe Correia

UFC 168 Weigh In

Las Vegas Sun

Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate pose after facing off during the weigh in for UFC 168 Friday, Dec. 27, 2013, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Ronda Rousey dispatched Bethe Correia in 34 seconds Saturday night, and it might not have taken another 34 seconds before Miesha Tate commented on the performance.

The longtime Rousey rival chimed in on UFC 190, which took place at Rio de Janeiro’s HSBC Arena, on Twitter from her local watch party at Sapphire.

“Guaranteed she won’t do that to me,” Tate posted.

No faster does Rousey knock off opponents anymore than they line right back up. The UFC even closed Saturday night’s pay-per-view rolling a highlight package of Tate, who will get a third shot at Rousey in the next women’s bantamweight championship bout.

Tate remains the only fighter to ever take Rousey out of the first round, losing in the third of their most recent contest at UFC 168. Tate believes their next meeting will be different because of how much she’s improved in a four-fight win streak since the defeat.

But Rousey has demonstrated just as much improvement. After winning each of her first eight fights by armbar, including both against Tate, Rousey now has three knockouts in her past four appearances.

She went into hostile territory and put Correia out cold. Correia tripped after Rousey came forward in the opening seconds, and once the previously undefeated Brazilian got up, the champion landed a disorienting combination.

Correia attempted to retreat, but Rousey threw a right hand that made her face plant into the canvas.

“It kind of went how we expected,” Rousey said in her post-fight interview from the octagon.

Rousey dedicated the victory to the memories of professional wrestler Roddy Piper, who allowed her to use his “Rowdy” nickname early in her career, and her father, who committed suicide when she was a child. Correia remarked she hoped Rousey didn’t kill herself after she lost in the build-up to the fight, which the champion felt crossed the line.

“I hope no one brings up my family anymore when it comes to fights,” Rousey said. “I hope this is the last time.”

It’s unlikely the words Rousey and Tate are sure to share will get that personal, but the two have a long and heated history. An unfriendly championship match in the other women’s division may have also been made at UFC 190.

Claudia Gadelha out-pointed Jessica Aguilar by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) to stake claim at a shot at women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Gadelha lost a controversial split decision to Jedrzejczyk at UFC on Fox 13 last year before she became champion.

“I’m the best strawweight in the world, and I’m here to prove that,” Gadelha said. “This fight has to happen. I’m going to keep training, and I’m ready for you whenever you want.”

Two former Brazilian champions competed in between the wins by Rousey and Gadelha at UFC 190. Light heavyweight Mauricio “Shogun” Rua came back from a near knockout in the first round to defeat Antonio Rogerio Nogueira by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

Nogueira’s twin brother and former interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira also came out on the losing end. Stefan Struve beat “Big Nog” by unanimous decision, winning every round on every judge’s scorecard.

The Brazilians got their cheers in the other heavyweight bout, however, when Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva knocked out Australian Soa Palelei 41 seconds into the second round.

Silva’s stoppage was the second-fastest of the night next to that of Rousey, who answered questions Correia asked about her punching power.

“I guess she can’t say anything about my hands anymore,” Rousey said.

Find the rest of the UFC 190 results, including all from the preliminary card, below.

Glacio Franca ended “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” 4 the same way he performed throughout the rest of it — with a rear-naked choke. Franca won in the finals of the 8-man lightweight tournament with his third straight rear-naked choke, this one over Fernando Bruno with 20 seconds remaining in the fight.

Reginaldo Vieira lost his first-round bantamweight fight on “TUF: Brazil” 4, before an injury got him back into the tournament bracket. Vieira took his second chance all the way to the title, beating Dileno Lopes by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).

Demian Maia exposed Neil Magny as not quite ready for the upper reaches of the welterweight division. Maia dominated before finishing via submission with a rear-naked choke at 2:52 of second round to snap Magny’s seven-fight win streak.

Patrick Cummins pleaded for a fight against a top-10 ranked light heavyweight after pummeling a fourth opponent in his past five fights. Cummins was too strong for Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante, nabbing the victory via TKO at 0:45 of the third round.

Up-and-coming welterweight Warrlley Alves stayed undefeated, winning his third UFC fight and ninth professional bout overall. Alves submitted Nordine Taleb with a guillotine choke at 4:11 of the second round.

Iuri Alcantara beat Leandro Issa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27) in a bantamweight bout. Alcantara proved too much on the feet for his opponent.

Former professional kickboxer Vitor Miranda showed off striking ability. Miranda defeated Clint Hester via TKO at 2:38 of the second round in their middleweight bout, using elbows to secure the victory.

Guido Cannetti upset Hugo Viana via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in a bantamweight bout.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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