Bethe Correia Looking For Reinvention In Thailand
Bethe Correia Looking For Reinvention In Thailand
Former UFC women's bantamweight title challenger Bethe Correia diving into Muay Thai to spark the comeback trail.
For FloCombat via A.G Fight
Two years after her shot at the UFC's women's bantamweight title ended in 34 seconds, Bethe Correia is in the process of reinventing herself.
The fierce brawler might've become a bit predictable over the course of four years in the UFC, and so, "Pitbull" is using her time off to assess some issues and come back a new version of herself.
"Everything that happens in life comes to strengthen us," Correia said. "Every victory and every defeat. Sometimes, you must go through a defeat to get back on top. When you are winning, your life is full of mistakes [as well], but because of the victories, you get away with them. It's important to have the courage to reflect and change."
After that period of reflection following a head-kick knockout loss to Holly Holm at UFC Singapore in June, Correia headed to Thailand to improve her standup skills. In the land of Muay Thai, the Brazilian now aims to adapt her game and become a more complete athlete.
"I've always dreamed of coming here, getting to know Thailand, especially because Muay Thai is from here," Correia said. "I'm at a point now where I'm looking for new stimulations. I found Muay Thai here along with Asian culture and energy. They have what I'm looking for. It's the ideal training for me to do different things."
During her time in Thailand, Correia ran into UFC women's featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, with whom Correia had traded public barbs earlier this year. The two Brazilians made their peace, though, and even strolled through a famous Thai market together where they enjoyed some local delicacies.
"It was a coincidence, it was good, it worked out," Correia said. "I came to Thailand and they told me that she was coming, too. It was very cool, I had a wrong view of her because of the media, which sometimes distorts a lot. Sometimes, people have a wrong view of me, as well. We talked and it was interesting to reconcile. We have different objectives. She came here to do a very nice seminar for girls, and I came to reinvent myself. We talked, not too much, but of course, if I ever go to her city, I plan to visit her gym."
Once she gets back to the Octagon, Correia will most certainly be looking to use the reinvention of herself to kick off a new winning streak. Since fighting her way into a title bout against then-champion Ronda Rousey in 2015, Correia has hit a rough streak, winning only one of her past five fights.
In Correia's mind, though, the recent course of her career isn't as bad as it might look on paper. Therefore, the public perception of her should be more positive as well, the Brazilian said.
"My last matches were pretty even -- I had losses, a victory, and a draw", Correia said. "I had an unfair defeat [by split decision to Raquel Pennington in April 2016]. I don't see it as a bad scenario at all. I did the main event in Singapore. I had one of the fiercest fights of my life, and it ended in a draw [against Marion Reneau in March]. I had a tough time against [Jessica Eye last September] in her home state. Against Raquel [Pennington], everyone I spoke to said I won. I want people to see me differently."
Two years after her shot at the UFC's women's bantamweight title ended in 34 seconds, Bethe Correia is in the process of reinventing herself.
The fierce brawler might've become a bit predictable over the course of four years in the UFC, and so, "Pitbull" is using her time off to assess some issues and come back a new version of herself.
"Everything that happens in life comes to strengthen us," Correia said. "Every victory and every defeat. Sometimes, you must go through a defeat to get back on top. When you are winning, your life is full of mistakes [as well], but because of the victories, you get away with them. It's important to have the courage to reflect and change."
After that period of reflection following a head-kick knockout loss to Holly Holm at UFC Singapore in June, Correia headed to Thailand to improve her standup skills. In the land of Muay Thai, the Brazilian now aims to adapt her game and become a more complete athlete.
"I've always dreamed of coming here, getting to know Thailand, especially because Muay Thai is from here," Correia said. "I'm at a point now where I'm looking for new stimulations. I found Muay Thai here along with Asian culture and energy. They have what I'm looking for. It's the ideal training for me to do different things."
During her time in Thailand, Correia ran into UFC women's featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, with whom Correia had traded public barbs earlier this year. The two Brazilians made their peace, though, and even strolled through a famous Thai market together where they enjoyed some local delicacies.
"It was a coincidence, it was good, it worked out," Correia said. "I came to Thailand and they told me that she was coming, too. It was very cool, I had a wrong view of her because of the media, which sometimes distorts a lot. Sometimes, people have a wrong view of me, as well. We talked and it was interesting to reconcile. We have different objectives. She came here to do a very nice seminar for girls, and I came to reinvent myself. We talked, not too much, but of course, if I ever go to her city, I plan to visit her gym."
Once she gets back to the Octagon, Correia will most certainly be looking to use the reinvention of herself to kick off a new winning streak. Since fighting her way into a title bout against then-champion Ronda Rousey in 2015, Correia has hit a rough streak, winning only one of her past five fights.
In Correia's mind, though, the recent course of her career isn't as bad as it might look on paper. Therefore, the public perception of her should be more positive as well, the Brazilian said.
"My last matches were pretty even -- I had losses, a victory, and a draw", Correia said. "I had an unfair defeat [by split decision to Raquel Pennington in April 2016]. I don't see it as a bad scenario at all. I did the main event in Singapore. I had one of the fiercest fights of my life, and it ended in a draw [against Marion Reneau in March]. I had a tough time against [Jessica Eye last September] in her home state. Against Raquel [Pennington], everyone I spoke to said I won. I want people to see me differently."