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Ronda Rousey called out by unbeaten Bethe Correia after victory

Bethe Correia celebrates after defeating Shayna Baszler.
Bethe Correia celebrates after defeating Shayna Baszler.
(Jeff Chiu / AP)
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A new challenge for Ronda Rousey emerged Saturday when Brazilian Bethe Correia (9-0) scored a second-round technical knockout of Rousey’s friend from Venice, Shayna Baszler, at UFC 177.

Correia, the 10th-ranked women’s bantamweight, backed Baszler to the cage and hammered her with punches, later telling the crowd her performance was a message to Rousey.

“I want to have a shot at Ronda at some point,” Correia said through an interpreter after the fight.

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Correia is definitely hitting close to home. She has now beaten two members of Rousey’s group, known as “The Four Horsewomen.”

“As soon as [Correia] started talking, Ronda texted me and said, ‘I want that fight. I want it before somebody else beats her,’ ” White said. “I said, ‘Calm down lady.’ ”

White said while top-ranked September fighter Cat Zingano remains the favorite to fight Rousey by January, he remains optimistic he can still sign Gina Carano by the end of the year.

Another possible Rousey challenger, Holly Holm, still hasn’t been given a fight date after suffering a broken arm earlier this year.

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