Ronda Rousey wins in just 34 seconds at UFC 190 in Rio
Last Updated: 03/08/15 3:04pm
Ronda Rousey defended her bantamweight title by knocking out Bethe Correia after just 34 seconds at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night.
The 28-year-old American charged at Correia at the start and finished the fight by throwing a rapid sequence of punches at the Brazilian's head, landing a combination of right and left strikes that sent her opponent face-first into the ground and disappointed the home crowd that packed the HSBC Arena.
It was yet another impressive performance by Rousey, who improved her MMA record to 12-0.
The UFC's biggest star arrived in Rio as the overwhelming favourite against Correia (9-1) after winning her previous three title defences in a combined 96 seconds - she needed only 14 seconds to beat Cat Zingano at UFC 184 earlier this year.
"It was kind of how I expected it," Rousey said. "I planned to instead of trying to force a clinch, overwhelm her (by) striking first so that she would want to clinch first, and that's exactly what happened."
Rousey has now won 11 of her fights in the first round while being taken to the third round once.
"I guess she can't really say anything about my hands anymore," Rousey said.
Rousey said she was fighting in memory of Hall of Fame wrestler Roddy Piper, whose death was confirmed on Friday. Piper was one of Rousey's greatest idols and inspired her to take the "Rowdy" nickname.
"We've lost a really close friend, 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, who gave me his permission to use his name as a fighter, so I hope he and my dad had a good time watching this today," Rousey said.
Rousey's next opponent is likely be fellow American Miesha Tate.
On the undercard, Mauricio Rua defeated Rogerio Nogueira with a unanimous decision in a fight between veteran Brazilian light heavyweight fighters
Top-ranked straw-weight fighter Claudia Gadelha of Brazil beat Mexican-born Jessica Aguilar with a unanimous decision after three rounds, heavyweight Antonio Silva of Brazil saw off Soa Palelei of Australia with a second-round knockout and Stefan Struve of the Netherlands overcame Brazil's Minotauro Nogueira with a unanimous decision.
