Quote: Ronda Rousey Wanted To Break Bethe Correia’s Bones

After a bad blood fueled rivalry leading up to UFC 190, dominant women’s bantamweight champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey settled the score with opponent Bethe Correia by knocking the Brazilian out cold in just 34-seconds.

After the fight, it seems as if Rousey’s stardom had skyrocketed following yet another spectacular victory, but according to her long-time friend and advisor “Judo” Gene Lebell, the champion was actually a slight bit disappointed. Lebell noted that Rousey wanted to break the bones of Correia, but at the end of the day, they were both happy with the performance:

“I think she was a little disappointed,” the 83-year-old LeBell said on a recent edition of The MMA hour. “She wanted to beat this gal up, and she said, ‘I wasn’t through, I wanted to break something, an arm or a leg or neck’. But John McCarthy broke it up because she was unconscious. But she said, ‘well, I proved a point.’ She’s happy, so I’m happy.”

As for what’s next for the “Rowdy” one, the UFC has confirmed that she will defend her title against Miesha Tate, which will be the third time the two meet, but the idea of a potential super fight with Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino still looms heavy.

However, a Rousey vs. Justino fight will not happen until the Brazilian can cut down to the 135-pound bantamweight limit. Speaking on the topic, Lebell stated that although “Cyborg” is a great fighter, she’s just not in Rousey’s class, and he actually believes Tate is better than Justino:

“Cyborg is a great, great fighter, probably the third-best in the world in women’s fighters,” Lebell said. Ronda of course is the best, Miesha Tate is the second best. I’d like to see Miesha Tate fight Cyborg without steroids. Cyborg is a great fighter, but she’s not in Ronda’s class.”

With the amount of legitimate contenders for Rousey limited, one would have to think that some way and somehow, the Justino fight will happen eventually, and if it does, Lebell feels as if his prodigy would dominate nonetheless:

“Cyborg is extremely physically strong. She’s a good fighter,” LeBell said. “I might sound prejudiced, but if it took [Rousey] three rounds, that’s okay. I think she would dominate her entirely. That isn’t taking her away from her.”

Rousey wasn’t Lebell’s only prodigy, however, as “Judo” also worked with former wrestling superstar “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, who unfortunately passed away recently. Lebell talked on Piper, stating that he was one of the best wrestlers in history, and a great human being as well:

“He was wrestling professionally at 16, when you’re supposed to be 18. He worked out with me for 30 years,” LeBell said. “He wanted to really be able to wrestle, and he was, in my opinion, not only a great showman, but one of the best real wrestler who ever stepped into the squared circle. This man can box, wrestle, finishing holds, he could do everything, I even got him into motorcycle racing. Whatever he did, he was the best. Great guy.”

Piper also meant a lot to Rousey, as the champion uses his trademarked nickname “Rowdy”. Lebell then talked about how special it was when Rousey dedicated her last fight to Piper:

“He was wrestling professionally at 16, when you’re supposed to be 18. He worked out with me for 30 years,” LeBell said. “He wanted to really be able to wrestle, and he was, in my opinion, not only a great showman, but one of the best real wrestler who ever stepped into the squared circle. This man can box, wrestle, finishing holds, he could do everything, I even got him into motorcycle racing. Whatever he did, he was the best. Great guy.”

Jumping back to Rousey, “Judo” Gene said that he couldn’t be any more proud of her, also noting that nobody deserves the awards and recognition more than she does:

“I am so pleased,” LeBell said. “From four years ago, not having hardly money to put in her car, and she spent a little time living in her car. If you read her book, she’s been on both sides of road. Nobody, no one deserves the accolades as much as she does, she works at it. When you talk to her, she looks you right in the eyes and she listens. She’s the most dedicated student or person that’s ever got on the mat with me. There’s no break or timeout, let’s go get a sandwich. It’s all business in anything she does.”

Can anyone challenge the dominant champion?