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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Bethe Correia hasn't yet beaten a top 15 opponent in the UFC, but she's absolutely moved into the conversation for a fight against Champ Ronda Rousey.
She's done so by beating up two of Rousey's friends and teammates in their "Four Horsewoman" group, defeating Jessamyn Duke earlier this year before taking out Shayna Baszler on Saturday at UFC 177. Following the UFC 177 event, UFC President Dana White said Rousey wants the Correia fight soon.
"As soon as [Bethe] started talking, she texted me and said, 'I want that fight; I want it now. I want it before someone else beats her,'" White relayed (via MMAJunkie.com). "And I said, 'Calm down, lady. You've got other people to fight. We'll figure it out.'"
"So Ronda wants that fight, too. We’ll see how this thing plays out."
During a post-fight interview with Ariel Helwani on Fox Sports 1, White added that Cat Zingano's the top contender right now, and likely next for Rousey if she beats Amanda Nunes, though Gina Carano remains in the conversation as well.
Penick's Analysis: Correia made things interesting on Saturday night, that's for sure. A fight with Rousey isn't warranted or deserved just yet, but she's put the story together to make it a realistic and passable idea, and if she keeps winning fights she'll get into that spot. Still, the UFC believes Carano could be a big money making fight, and Zingano will deserve the fight on merit if she beats Nunes.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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