Bethe Correia is picking a fight.
Give her credit, though: She's not going after the little girl at recess. The biggest star and payday on the playground is in Correia's sights. That would be UFC women's bantamweight champ, Ronda Rousey.
"I will knock Ronda out in the first round, but first I’ll do her a favor and knock that mole off her face with a punch," Correia said in an interview with Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting.com.
You may know Correia (9-0) as the self-proclaimed "Horsewoman Killer." That's a reference to "The Four Horsewomen," Rousey and a group of associates modeled after "The Four Horsemen" of pro wrestling fame.
Her moniker is not an idle brag, either. In April, Correia defeated horsewoman Jessamyn Duke by decision at UFC 172. Then, in August at UFC 177, she knocked out a second horsewoman, Shayna Baszler.
Correia is currently on the shelf with an injury and is eyeing a return in March.
Correia's defeat of Baszler left only Rousey. (The fourth horsewoman, Marina Shafir, is a featherweight and thus competes outside the UFC) That, presumably, was Correia's idea all along. And Rousey took the bait, reportedly demanding a fight with Correia in a text to UFC president Dana White.
As most fight fans know, Rousey (10-0) is next scheduled to defend her belt against Cat Zingano at UFC 184. And with high-profile clashes with the likes of Cris "Cyborg" Justino and Holly Holm potentially on the horizon, there are no shortage of challenges for the champion.
Perhaps that's why Correia is taking this opportunity to remind Rousey that "The Horsewoman Killer" is still there and still spoiling for a scrap.
"I will knock Ronda out in the first round," Correia said in the interview with MMAFighting.com. "I want her to beat Zigano fast and without injuries, so we can fight right after. I want to be the one to take her title. ... People know me as the horsewomen killer. I killed two already, and I will kill the number one next."
Scott Harris covers MMA and other sports for Bleacher Report. For more MMA stuff, follow Scott on Twitter.
