Is MMA's next big rivalry Bethe Correia vs. Ronda Rousey's 'Four Horsewomen'?

Bethe Correia stayed unbeaten this past Saturday when she topped Jessamyn Duke in Baltimore.

While the fight wasn’t any kind of memorable knock-down, drag-out affair, what Correia said happened afterward may turn into a catalyst for a new rivalry in women’s MMA.

After Correia (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) beat Duke (3-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), she said she went toward Duke’s corners to shake their hands – including Duke roommate Ronda Rousey, the UFC’s women’s bantamweight champion and de facto leader of a newly formed crew calling itself “The Four Horsewomen.”

That posse consists of Rousey, Duke, Shayna Baszler and Marina Shafir. Duke and Baszler trained under Rousey on Season 18 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” while Shafir, a close Rousey confidante, turned pro earlier this month. She won by – what else? – a first-round armbar.

But when she approached Rousey, she says she got far from a warm response.

“I did notice Ronda’s negative reaction,” Correia told MMAjunkie. “I went to shake hands with Jessamyn and her corner after the fight. When I walked toward Ronda, she turned her back to me and exited the cage. I complimented all her crew except for her (because she) turned her back.

“But it doesn’t matter. Ronda can love me or hate me; it doesn’t affect my life. I only care to spend time with people who have good manners.”

Correia also made her intentions known with a gesture of her own after the win. She held up four fingers, then dropped one to indicate she had taken out one of “The Four Horsewomen.”

The Brazilian believes the path in front of her is clear going forward, though. She says she’ll pick off anyone the UFC gives her, and if that’s more in Rousey’s crew, so be it.

“Jessamyn is one of ‘The Four Horsewomen.’ I defeated her, and I did that in case I face any of the others, whom I’ll also defeat,” Correia said. “I’ll fight anyone. The UFC has a full roster of women in my weight class. I’ll just wait for the phone to ring. I hope it’s soon, so I can keep my training rhythm.”

And it’s all on the way to what she hopes is an eventual title shot, potentially against the thus-far dominant champ in Rousey.

Correia already believes Rousey isn’t a big fan of hers. The early part of their potential history with each other was written when Correia beat Duke.

“I’m in the UFC and I see myself fighting for the belt eventually,” she said. “I expect to arrive there little by little.

“It’s OK if she doesn’t like me, because I don’t like her either. I don’t need her friendship to become a top fighter. I’ve provoked Ronda by taking out the first of four. Whoever comes next, I’ll be ready for her.”

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