Ronda Rousey demolishes latest opponent in 34-second knockout in mixed martial arts
Inspired by late wrestler 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, champion makes Brazilian pay for comments about her father
It's not a good idea to give Ronda Rousey some extra motivation.
Hurt by comments about her family and moved by the death of a close friend and idol, Rousey wasted no time in knocking out home-crowd favourite Bethe Correia only 34 seconds into the first round at UFC 190.
Rousey defended her bantamweight title 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 local fans.
I hope that nobody really brings up my family any more when it comes to fights. I hope this is the last time
It was yet another impressive performance by Rousey, who improved to 12-0 in her incredible MMA career. She has been crushing her opponents inside the octagon, but this victory seemed special.
Rousey came into the fight upset with Correia after the Brazilian made a comment apparently referencing to Rousey's father's suicide. Rousey said Correia crossed the line, so she would try to embarrass her in front of her fans.
"I hope that nobody really brings up my family any more when it comes to fights," she said. "I hope this is the last time."
Before the fight, Correia had said that she didn't know about what happened to Rousey's father and never intended to attack her personally.
Rousey was also extra motivated after the death of Hall of Fame wrestler Roddy Piper, who was one her greatest idols and inspired her to take the "Rowdy" nickname. She had said she would be fighting for him.
"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.
The UFC's biggest star, Rousey 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 kind of went 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, who has been redefining the sport, has won 11 of her fights in the first round while being taken to the third round once. She has finished most of her opponents with her signature armbar, but this time it was her brutal striking force that made the difference.
"I guess she can't really say anything about my hands anymore," Rousey said of Correia.
Rousey's next opponent will likely be fellow American Miesha Tate.
