Miesha Tate Believes Bethe Correia Is In Over Her Head
Some big news concerning the women’s bantamweight division arose at yesterday’s (Fri., March 20, 2015) UFC 189 Word Tour Press Conference when it was announced that dominant champion Ronda Rousey would next face Brazilian challenger Bethe Correia in the main event of Aug. 1’s UFC 190 pay-per-view (PPV) from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
That announcement was quickly followed by the finding that No. 2-ranked Miesha Tate would be facing No. 6 Jessica Eye at a yet to be determined UFC event in June for the next shot at Rousey’s locked-down belt.
After the presser, Tate, who was in attendance for yesterday’s proceedings from Brazil, spoke up to MMAFighting.com to discuss the scenario.
“Cupcake” elaborated on her view that fighting Eye made the most sense to determine the next contender.
“Well I though that I was probably gonna end up fighting Jessica Eye because I knew that Bethe was probably gonna get the title fight, so I had that in the back of my mind already, so I was kinda prepared for it. But I think it’s an exciting fight, I think it’s a good match-up, and I think that it makes sense right now, you know? If she wins, she gets to be the contender, and if I win, which I will, then I’ll be the contender.”
According to Tate, she’ll deservedly earn a third shot at Rousey if she were to lock up her fourth straight win over a quality combatant like Eye.
“I think another win will get me a title shot. I think that would be four wins in a row, all against the top girls, best girls in the division, and I think that everybody knows that if anyone is going to beat Ronda, it’s gonna be me.”
While it’s almost impossible to imagine anyone beating Rousey right now after her recent decimations of Cat Zingano and Alexis Davis that lasted a total of 30 seconds, it remains a fact that Tate has taken her the furthest by lasting until the third round in their second match at UFC 168.
“Cupcake” believes that she’s the only one who could potentially beat Rousey, but she isn’t giving Correia, who hasn’t fought a single top contender on her way to a title shot, any chance to dethrone the dominant titleholder in Rio.
“I think Bethe is just in over her head right now. I think it’s just a little too much, too soon, too early in her career, and I don’t think she’s prepared; she won’t be prepared enough for Ronda, she hasn’t even fought anyone in the Top 10 yet. It’s going to be a big jump in competition for her. But you know, we’ll see; it’ll be a learning experience for her either way.”
Tate may have a point, as Correia could certainly be dealing with the most angered version of Rousey we’ve ever seen after she recently beat her teammates Shayna Baszler and Jessamyn Duke.
Based on what we’ve seen lately from ‘Rowdy,’ that’s an extremely scary proposition for any woman in the UFC.
