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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
With Cat Zingano next in line for the title shot against Ronda Rousey this January, Bethe Correia's in need of another fight before she gets her turn. Miesha Tate would like to be that fight.
The former Strikeforce Champ and UFC Title challenger said in a recent interview with AskMen.com that she wanted that fight, saying Correia's style appeals to her as a potential matchup.
"She's doing really well and she's not afraid to engage in a fight," Tate said. "She's undefeated and she has an exciting style of fighting. My last two opponents that I beat just wanted to grab a hold of me and take me to the ground. They did not want to throw punches with me at all. It's not as fun for me. I like people that want to stand up and fight. I feel like Correia is well-rounded and we could win fight of the night."
"It's hard to win fight of the night when one of the two people in the ring just want to hold on to you or lay on you. I want to fight someone that isn't afraid to stand up with me. Let's give the fans what they want to see and throw punches until someone goes down."
Correia was surprised by the callout in an interview with FoxSports.com, but she's more than willing to oblige.
"Everyone knows I want to be the champion. And [fighting] the champion is something I've looked for, something I worked to get," she said. "I have no idea why Tate decided to appear in this history. But everyone knows me and knows how I am, I never back away from a fight, I am Bethe Correia. I never run from a challenge. Whoever challenges me make sure to use a good mouthpiece because I'll answer to it in the Octagon with punches to the mouth."
"I'll be the next UFC champion. I'll fight anyone they want me to and I'll beat all of them. If it's up to me, the check for Performance of the Night bonus will have my name on it in my next fight."
Penick's Analysis: Put this fight on the January 3 card with Jones-Cormier and Rousey-Zingano. If Correia wins, the UFC has no problem at all booking Rousey-Correia anywhere they want to put the fight. It's a sensible matchup, and a top five opponent Correia should have to get past anyway in order to secure a title fight.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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