Shayna Baszler will make long-awaited UFC debut against Bethe Correia
Shayna Baszler has waited a long time to make her Ultimate Fighting Championship debut.
It will finally come on Aug. 2 at UFC 176 at the Staples Center and will come against Bethe Correia.
The bout, confirmed Monday afternoon by the UFC, comes on the heels of Correia defeating Baszler’s teammate Jessamyn Duke at UFC 172 on April 26 via unanimous decision.
Baszler (15-8) and Duke train alongside UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and Marina Shafir at the Glendale Fighting Club. The quartet has dubbed itself the “Four Horsewomen,” and following Correia’s win over Duke, the undefeated Brazilian held four fingers up and then put one down.
Shortly after the bout, Twitter was abuzz with fans suggesting a Baszler-Correia bout and it’s now coming to fruition.
Correia (8-0), ranked 10th in the UFC women’s bantamweight rankings, is a two-fight UFC veteran with wins in the octagon over Duke and Julie Kedzie.
Baszler, a member of the 18th season of “The Ultimate Fighter” and considered by many to be a pioneer of women’s MMA, has fought a who’s who in the sport, including Alexis Davis (twice), Sara McMann, Cris “Cyborg” Justino, Sarah Kaufman and Kedzie among others.
UFC 176 is set to be headlined by a featherweight title rematch between champion Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes.
For more information, see www.ufc.com.
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Follow Grant Gordon on Twitter: @TCNGrantGordon.