Rousey vs. Correia: A Complete Guide to Full UFC 190 Fight Card
How big of a star, really, is Ronda Rousey? We'll find out this Saturday at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro, when she faces one of the biggest challenges of her career.
Wait, wait. Did you think I meant Bethe Correia? Oh, reader. Now you're just being silly.
With apologies to Conor McGregor, Rousey appears to be the biggest MMA celebrity going. She might be the best crossover success story in the young history of the sport. So Rousey has bigger fights than, you know, another fighter.
This is the woman who is 11-0, who has defended her UFC women's bantamweight title five consecutive times. Average duration of those five bouts? Three minutes and 28 seconds. Her last two fights were done in fewer than 20 ticks of the old stopwatch.
So it's not a surprise that she's currently a massive favorite to take down Correia, a game but relatively unexceptional fighter who let her mouth write a big check that her backside is now going to have to cash.
All of that's to say the fight isn't the challenge for Rousey. It's carrying a pay-per-view. The rest of this card, which, thanks to visa difficulties, doubles as the finale for the fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil (yes, there is a fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil), is empty. And I don't mean "for a pay-per-view." It's barren like a FedEx Field parking lot in January. Zing!
Can Rousey single-handedly cause a card to succeed? That's what the UFC is guessing. We'll see when the final estimates come out. Interesting fights can still happen despite the lack of immediate title implications, big names and the like, so let us delve in.
What fights could be interesting? Which ones can you skip? Who are these people? All that, plus predictions and viewing coordinates here in your complete guide to the action.
Hugo Viana vs. Guido Cannetti
1 of 13
Division: Bantamweight
Records: Hugo Viana (8-2), Guido Cannetti (6-2)
See it on: UFC Fight Pass (subscription required)
You may remember Cannetti from TUF: Latin America. Aggressive to a fault, Cannetti was finished twice on the show and once again on the finale event.
On the other side we have Fabio Maldonado's physical therapist. Viana's a solid striker, even if he doesn't have a ton of power (only one knockout to his name). He should have plenty of steam to handle Cannetti.
This event takes place in Brazil, and Viana is Brazilian. Cannetti is from Argentina. These two countries don't like each other's athletes and sports teams. I suspect this is a bit of red meat to get the crowd going.
Prediction: Viana, unanimous decision
Vitor Miranda vs. Clint Hester
2 of 13
Division: Middleweight
Records: Vitor Miranda (10-4), Clint Hester (11-4)
See it on: UFC Fight Pass (subscription required)
Remember when Hester was labeled as a middleweight to watch? His knockout power is certainly tantalizing, even if, you know, the rest of his skill set is not.
Miranda can match Hester's power. In fact, both men have recorded seven career knockouts in MMA. Hester won't be able to muscle his way out of this one. Miranda stays accurate and mixes up his striking to keep Hester on his heels and notch a crowd-pleasing finish. Sound the (mild) upset alarms. Sound them mildly.
Prediction: Miranda, TKO, Round 2
Iuri Alcantara vs. Leandro Issa
3 of 13
Division: Bantamweight
Records: Iuri Alcantara (31-6), Leandro Issa (13-4)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Alcantara was on a nice roll until February, when he dropped a decision to Frankie Saenz. Looks like his desire to jump up the ladder will be stymied a little longer. You can't really jump up a ladder, but metaphorically, I think it makes the proper point.
Alcantara's loss is this undercard's gain. No one's going to confuse him for a contender, but he's a well-rounded veteran with a nose for the finish.
Issa's a veteran himself, having earned a name mainly fighting in Asia. Issa can hold his own with Alcantara on the ground; both are Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts. Alcantara will have a striking edge, though, and that will be the difference.
Prediction: Alcantara, unanimous decision
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Warlley Alves vs. Nordine Taleb
4 of 13
Division: Welterweight
Records: Warlley Alves (8-0), Nordine Taleb (11-2)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
As you surely know, Alves won TUF: Brazil 3. That win over Alan Jouban in his UFC debut demonstrated that he can thrive outside the cozy confines of the reality show.
Taleb has a nice winning streak going, but don't turn him into Neil Magny just yet (more on him in a second, by the by). He has decent skills, but if Alves can hold up, his power and aggression should win the day.
Prediction: Alves, unanimous decision
Rafael Cavalcante vs. Patrick Cummins
5 of 13
Division: Light heavyweight
Records: Rafael Cavalcante (12-5), Patrick Cummins (7-2)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Cummins avoided extended punchline status by tearing off three wins following that first-round, short-notice TKO to Daniel Cormier a year-and-a-half ago. He dropped his last fight when he walked into an Ovince Saint Preux heckpunch. Hey, it happens.
His wrestling makes him a load for anyone to deal with—with the exception of Cormier, he's probably the best wrestler in the division right now. His single- and double-leg takedowns are strong, as are his throws from the clinch. His striking is clunky as all get-out, though I'm not sure that will matter against Cavalcante.
Cavalcante may have been a little overvalued when he entered the UFC; since that entry, the only fighter he's beaten is Igor Pokrajac, who is no longer with the promotion. What's more, Cavalcante has had issues with wrestlers—see Ryan Bader—and hasn't fought in more than a year. Not good.
Prediction: Cummins, unanimous decision
Demian Maia vs. Neil Magny
6 of 13
Division: Welterweight
Records: Demian Maia (20-6), Neil Magny (15-3)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
Momentum is the key in this fight. Magny has it, Maia doesn't.
Magny has found a home on Fox Sports 1, posting up at the top of pay-per-view undercards and Fight Night main cards. Here we are again, with another prelim headliner. Magny has won seven in a row, dating back to February 2014. His massive 80-inch reach—a full eight inches more than Maia—gives him an edge right out of the gate. And he knows how to use it, with a strong jab that he pairs with good tactical movement in the cage.
He's also a patient fighter, and that could be problematic for Maia. It wasn't that long ago that Maia and his world-class jiu-jitsu were considered a threat to the top of this division. He's definitely still dangerous, but the mo is no longer with Maia after he lost to Jake Shields and Rory MacDonald. Two wins since have stabilized him, but the apple cart is about to capsize once again. Magny will stuff the majority of Maia's takedowns and weather the back-mount storm without giving the fight away.
What's that I hear? Oh, right. It is the upset alarms. Let them roll through the streets of Rio de Janeiro. The man with the mo makes it eight in a row.
Prediction: Magny, unanimous decision
Claudia Gadelha vs. Jessica Aguilar
7 of 13
Division: Women's strawweight
Records: Jessica Aguilar (19-4), Claudia Gadelha (12-1)
See it on: Pay-per-view
Before she came to the UFC, Aguilar was hailed as one of the best women's strawweights—if not the very best women's strawweight—in the world. Now she gets here, and she's immediately installed as a massive underdog in her debut.
What gives?
Part of it is the matchup. Gadelha is nobody's pushover. UFC matchmakers clearly wanted to give Aguilar a stiff test in her debut; all the better to disprove the notion that the World Series of Fighting, or anyone else, is in any way justified in having the gumption to challenge the talent roster of the big, bad UFC.
It's a smart play, and it very well might work. Gadelha is super aggressive in all phases; eight of her 12 wins have come by stoppage. Remember, she fights in the Nova Uniao camp, and as such brings that blended skill set that works so well for Jose Aldo and other teammates.
She certainly has an edge over Aguilar on the feet, but Aguilar might be the better woman on the mat. She also has the cardio to stay active and dangerous from horn to horn, while Gadelha can sometimes gas.
I'm going to walk my talk on this one. I talked up Aguilar as a blue-chipper who could hang in the UFC, and I'm not going to back away from that now. Big-time sounding of the alarms. Fire up the sirens, ring the bells, take shelter underneath your desks and kitchen table areas. This is your big-time upset of the week.
Prediction: Aguilar, unanimous decision
Antonio Silva vs. Soa Palelei
8 of 13
Division: Heavyweight
Records: Antonio Silva (18-7-1), Soa Palelei (22-4)
See it on: Pay-per-view
There are reports that Palelei is training with Mark Hunt. But I'm calling bull. There's no building that could hold both of those men at the same time. What happens if they accidentally swung their fists at the same time? They'd tear a wormhole in the Earth. I mean, what are the walls made of, adamantium? Come on.
Either way, Palelei is one of the hardest hitters in mixed martial arts. Silva knows how to club a man to the ground, as well, and has grappling skills to boot, which is something Palelei does not have.
Can you tell the other shoe is about to drop? Very perceptive of you. Here's the thing: Silva is now 35 years old and aging in Dorian Gray years ever since he got busted for elevated testosterone levels. His chin is evaporating before our eyes: three knockout losses in his last four bouts, and the only non-KO was a five-round rumble with Hunt. That's not going to do anything for your cranial integrity.
Neither is fighting Palelei. Silva is popular and beloved, but here's guessing he doesn't have another miracle comeback left in him.
Prediction: Palelei, KO, Round 1
Stefan Struve vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
9 of 13
Division: Heavyweight
Records: Stefan Struve (25-7), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (34-9-1)
See it on: Pay-per-view
I don't want to be reductive here, but until Nogueira proves he is not over the hill in the fight game, you can't have any faith in his ability to win a fight.
The last time the 39-year-old legend won was 2012, and that came against Dave Herman, who went 1-4 in the UFC and was waived in 2013.
Injuries and age are taking their toll, and Big Nog is only fighting once a year these days. They trot him out mainly for cards in Brazil, where he is a hero to his fans. He has enough resume items and jiu-jitsu to make him legitimate enough to justify his inclusion indefinitely. I guess.
Struve has two straight knockout losses of his own and is trying to re-establish himself after a serious heart condition sidelined him for almost two years.
In short, this matchup is more inspiring on an emotional level than an athletic one. Here's guessing age and reach combine to swing it for Skyscraper.
Prediction: Struve, TKO, Round 2
Dileno Lopes vs. Reginaldo Vieira
10 of 13
Division: Bantamweight
Records: Dileno Lopes (18-1), Reginaldo Vieira (12-3)
See it on: Pay-per-view
I know what you're thinking: "I don't know who these fighters are." Don't worry. I'm no rat.
This is the TUF: Brazil 4 bantamweight final, with the winner getting that shiny new UFC contract.
Lopes has been a fixture in prospect discussions for years now (mainly at flyweight). Though he is mostly a submission grappler, the Nova Uniao trainee showed in the season semifinals that he can strike, too, exchanging with and ultimately getting the better of a seasoned stand-up fighter in Matheus Nicolau.
Regardless of the phase, Lopes likes to pressure the other man. Vieira is a little more tactical, preferring to get inside, tie up his opponents and work for submissions.
When the action takes place at a distance, Lopes should have a large advantage. Vieira may be able to out-muscle Lopes, but I don't see him maintaining control for extended stretches.
Prediction: Lopes, unanimous decision
Glaico Franca vs. Fernando Bruno
11 of 13
Division: Lightweight
Records: Fernando Bruno (15-2), Glaico Franca (12-3)
See it on: Pay-per-view
Here is the TUF: Brazil 4 lightweight final.
Bruno seems to have different gears when he fights. When he's in the higher gears, he's a thick-bodied grappler with what looks to me to be some powerful (if clunky) boxing.
Franca is mainly a ground fighter but is the more dynamic fighter of the two, always working two moves ahead and scrambling for a choke, which he used in each of his victories during the season. He's only 24 years old (nine years younger than Bruno) and should be able to leverage his cardio and athleticism to beat Bruno to the (probably metaphorical) punch.
Prediction: Franca, unanimous decision
Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
12 of 13
Division: Light heavyweight
Records: Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (22-10), Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (21-6)
See it on: Pay-per-view
Once upon a time, this would have been Shogun vs. Anderson Silva, culminating their TUF: Brazil coaching rivalry. Wouldn't that have been nice?
But drug tests happen and life gets in the way, so here we have Rua and Lil Nog, who faces many of the same problems (age, injury, inactivity) as his big twin.
Also like his brother, Nogueira faces a relatively vulnerable opponent in Rua, who is far more shopworn than his 33 years might suggest. Moving on a knee surgically repaired multiple times, he's just not the same athlete he was in his heyday. His chin isn't helping him, either: He's dropped four of his last five, and his last two by knockout.
So, who knows? Neither of these men has many fights left, one would imagine. Both could be looking for a farewell moment, a high note on which to depart. To be honest, a feel-good exit might be the only thing that could make this fight feel good.
Prediction: Rua, TKO, Round 2
Ronda Rousey vs. Bethe Correia
13 of 13
Division: Women's bantamweight (for UFC women's bantamweight title)
Records: Ronda Rousey (11-0), Bethe Correia (9-0)
See it on: Pay-per-view
Correia has been very aggressive with her trash talk. On Saturday, it's Rousey's turn to be aggressive.
Think Rousey's up to it? I think she's up to it.
It's not really a matter of if, or even of how. It's when. Rousey has said she wants to make Correia suffer for the abrasive comments she made toward Rousey's friends and family. That's pretty scary, especially given Rousey's ever-improving stand-up.
To be fair, Correia is not 9-0 for nothing. She's a physical fighter with heart and grit, preferring to overpower opponents and grind them out on the fence.
I don't see how that works against Rousey, given that she cannot be overpowered. Rousey will pump a jab into Correia's face, soften her up with body shots, then toss her down for the signature armbar finish. She'll punish Correia a little, but not too much. We wouldn't want anyone thinking Correia could get past a round with the champ.
Prediction: Rousey, submission, Round 1
As always, all records courtesy of Sherdog.com. Scott Harris writes about MMA for Bleacher Report. For more stuff like this, follow Scott on Twitter.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
