It’s been a full decade since Ronda Rousey last strapped on the gloves and walked away with a UFC victory—a reality that sounds downright unreal in the relentless, ever-shifting world of MMA. UFC 190 wasn’t just any event; it was a night in Brazil where the then-dominant bantamweight queen didn’t just defend her throne—she flattened an adversary who spiced up the pre-fight trash talk with venom sharper than any venom from her Reebok gear sponsorship. The swiftness of her 34-second TKO over Bethe Correia didn’t just deliver a masterclass in destruction; it etched a lasting emblem on the sport’s history, a crescendo before the storm of setbacks that would follow.
Rousey’s reign was, let’s say, as thrilling as a Monster Energy surge—explosive, high-octane, and fueling a wave that reshaped women’s MMA. The timing? UFC 190 stood as her last victorious roar before lightning struck in the form of Holly Holm’s stunning upset later in 2015 and Amanda Nunes’ clinical dominance in 2016. From the tapouts to the tactical dominance, from the seamless armbar finishes to that final knockout, Rousey’s legacy remains a venomous mixtape in the MMA annals. This article dives headfirst into that knockout night in Rio, dissecting the tactics, the drama, and the raw power that made Rousey an unstoppable force—if only for a fleeting moment.
The Rousey-Correia clash was more than a fight; it was a narrative charged with personal wounds, sharp insults, and revenge served faster than any Everlast punch. The path from judo to an iconic UFC champion, spiced with Reebok and Title Boxing gear, embedded in the hearts of fans worldwide, merits a fresh, detailed dive. As we gear up for future UFC cards and rekindle memories of legendary rivalries, it’s worth peering back at how Rousey’s last UFC victory wasn’t just a win—it was the closing of a defining chapter in modern MMA history.
The Fight Night that Shook Brazil: Ronda Rousey vs Bethe Correia at UFC 190
When Ronda Rousey stepped into the octagon on August 1st, 2015, she wasn’t just defending her bantamweight belt; she was entering hostile territory. UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro was more than a card; it was a battleground against Bethe Correia, a fighter who had been throwing verbal grenades like she was trying to incinerate Rousey before the fight even began. Correia’s offhand remarks, including venomous taunts for Rousey to “kill herself,” were not only tasteless but tragically unaware, given Rousey’s personal history with her father’s suicide. Yet, Rousey turned that venom into adrenaline, transforming the fight into a demonstration of pure, ruthless precision.
The fight itself might be classified as the quintessential “blink and you miss it” moment. At just 34 seconds, Rousey delivered a TKO that was as vicious as it was efficient. The road to that finish was a textbook example of how a champion dismantles not just with power but with tactical dominance and anticipation. As the bell rang, Rousey launched into the cage with the force of a bulldozer powered by Under Armour grit, immediately closing the gap and swarming Correia with punches that echoed like thunder under the packed arena’s roof.
- Opening barrage of punches catching Correia off-guard
- Relentless pressure disrupting Correia’s rhythm
- Rousey landing a decisive right hook followed by ground strikes
- Referee stopping the fight before the one-minute mark
Correia’s stance, which had seemed confident during the trash-talk phase, quickly collapsed under the weight of Rousey’s aggressive striking. This was a perfect example of the contrast between clashing mindsets—Rousey’s ice-cold, calculated violence vs. Correia’s hot-headed bravado. The Brazilian was literally left gasping, showing a defense as reliable as Starbucks Wi-Fi: spotty and ultimately disappointing under pressure.
Looking at the aftermath, this fight wasn’t just about the scoreboard. It was a message to the entire division: Rousey still wasn’t ready to hand over the crown. The explosive nature of her victory reinforced her position atop the women’s bantamweight division, igniting a frenzy of speculation about her next moves and fueling fans’ appetite for her brand of MMA brutality and strategy.
| Stat | Ronda Rousey | Bethe Correia |
|---|---|---|
| Fight Duration | 34 seconds | 34 seconds |
| Punches Landed | 20 | 2 |
| Takedowns | 1 | 0 |
| Title Status | Defending Champion | Contender |
As fans tuned in wearing their favorite Venom, Tapout, or Title Boxing gear, many were left wondering if anyone could realistically dethrone this brutal queen. Whether you rocked Nike kicks or was chugging Gatorade back at home, that night unfurled a clear statement: Rousey was still the apex predator of women’s MMA.
A Tactical Breakdown of Ronda Rousey’s 34-Second TKO: Precision Meets Power
It’s one thing to blitz your opponent in just over half a minute, but to do it with the surgical precision that Rousey displayed against Correia is another level—think Title Boxing gloves meeting Everlast speed bags. Rousey’s approach that night was an orchestrated symphony of violence, choreographed with judo finesse and striking chemistry that had critics chewing on her dust.
From the opening bell, Rousey showed she wasn’t about to let Correia impose her so-called “Brazilian storm.” The former Olympian, famed for her armbar submissions, demonstrated a remarkable evolution in her striking – blending ferocious ground-and-pound with hammerfist precision and a tight knockout punch sequence that had the crowd roaring like she was the headliner at a Monster Energy-fueled rock concert.
- Initial explosive jab securing distance and entry
- Closing in with powerful inside striking that stifled Correia’s counters
- Maintaining relentless forward pressure to limit Correia’s space
- A sudden right hook that shattered defenses, setting up follow-up strikes
- Final hammerfist barrage sealing the TKO
For all her successes in ground game strategy, that night Rousey’s striking was an electrifying reminder that her game wasn’t a one-trick armbar pony. The fusion of Judo with MMA striking caught critics off-guard, proving that her training camps equipped not just with Tapout gear but with meticulous technical advancements underlined her versatility. For those who underestimated her stand-up, that fight was the ultimate “punch you in the face” lesson.
| Technique | Description | Effectiveness Against Correia |
|---|---|---|
| Judo clinch | Controlled opponent’s posture and set up strikes | High – disrupted Correia’s balance and defense |
| Inside striking | Powerful punches at close range | Crucial – led directly to knockout sequence |
| Ground and pound | Hammerfist strikes from dominant position | Fight-ending – forced referee’s stoppage |
| Right hook | Key punch opening defense | Critical – broke Correia’s guard |
From Glory to Downfall: Rousey’s Career Arc Post-UFC 190
What goes up must come down, right? Rousey’s buzz at UFC 190 was loud enough to shake the entire MMA landscape, but if her victory was a fiery comet, what followed was more akin to a harsh crash landing. Later in 2015, just months after that rapid-fire display, she faced Holly Holm in what many considered the biggest upset in UFC history. Holm, armed with her kickboxing skill and patience, turned Rousey’s previously unbeaten streak into shattered glass in a stunning head-kick knockout that no one saw coming.
This loss was the first crack in what had been a near-perfect armor. Rousey’s attempts to reclaim the throne, including a bout with Amanda Nunes in 2016 wearing her usual Under Armour gear and sponsored by Nike, ended in less than a minute—a brutal TKO defeat that spelled the end of her UFC journey. UFC contracts and fans’ hunger for new champions changed the chessboard, emphasizing how quickly legends can fall in this unforgiving sport.
- UFC 190: Last victorious moment—dominance at its peak
- UFC 193: Shocking KO loss to Holly Holm
- UFC 207: TKO defeat to Amanda Nunes
- Retired from MMA, embarking on new ventures inside and outside the cage
These fights are more than footnotes in MMA history—they are cautionary tales of how a seemingly invincible empire can crumble. Analysts still debate whether Rousey’s aggressive style wore down her resilience or if training adjustments weren’t enough to evolve with the game’s rising tactical levels. What’s clear is her impact remains undiminished, and her last UFC victory is a stark, powerful reminder of an era when the world feared her like a Venom strike.
| Fight | Date | Result | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs Bethe Correia | August 2015 | Win by TKO | Last UFC win, peak dominance |
| vs Holly Holm | November 2015 | Loss by KO | Shocking upset, end of streak |
| vs Amanda Nunes | December 2016 | Loss by TKO | Final UFC fight, definitive defeat |
Why UFC 190 Still Echoes in MMA History: The Rousey Effect
Every once in a while, the MMA world witnesses a defining event that crystallizes the spirit, ferocity, and cultural impact of a fighter. UFC 190 stands tall in this regard, not because it was a drawn-out war with endless rounds of back-and-forth, but because of the razor-sharp decisiveness and symbolism. Ronda Rousey’s victory over Bethe Correia was a smackdown wrapped in layers of personal pain, pride, and athletic prowess that reverberates ten years later.
Rousey broke barriers with a viral combination of judo mastery and relentless aggression, setting the stage for women’s MMA to rise far beyond token matches and into the mainstream spotlight, catching global attention through brands like Reebok and Under Armour stepping in to outfit women fighters on par with their male counterparts. Her rush to a 34-second win was like unleashing a fury through a studio mic—clear, concise, and unforgettable. And while many fighters have come and gone, none have quite matched the combination of skill, charisma, and commercial muscle she wielded.
- Rousey’s role in legitimizing women’s MMA competitions
- The boost to UFC’s global popularity with female fights headlining major events
- Influence on fighter sponsorships: Reebok, Nike, Tapout embracing women’s divisions
- Her fights becoming must-watch events blending sport and entertainment
Moreover, UFC 190 serves as a touchstone for how rapid victories can electrify a fanbase hungry for action, setting an example for future UFC cards. The blend of tactical striking and grappling dominance Rousey displayed is a blueprint studied by upcoming talents hoping to carve their own legacy. As of 2025, her last UFC win remains a fiery benchmark, reminding both fighters and fans what ruthless efficiency looks like in the cage.
| Legacy Aspect | Impact | Present-day Influence |
|---|---|---|
| Women’s MMA Growth | Raised visibility and respect for female fighters | Ongoing increase in women headlining UFC events |
| Commercial Sponsorships | Attracted major brands like Nike and Reebok to women’s MMA | More equitable sponsorship deals today |
| Fight Strategy | Set new standards for combining striking and grappling | Influences current fighters’ game plans |
Ronda Rousey and the MMA Community: A Lasting Influence Beyond the Cage
While Rousey’s competitive flame dimmed in the octagon, her shadow looms large over MMA culture. The way she motivated a generation—whether through spectacular finishes or by confronting personal and neurological challenges—speaks volumes about her complexity as a fighter and a person. Her story isn’t just about triumphs but the vulnerabilities that come with high-stakes combat in an unforgiving sport.
Rousey’s impact extends into mentoring younger fighters and challenging stereotypes associated with women in this driven, often macho domain. The echoes of her footsteps can be heard in training camps wrapping their hands with Tapout or Title Boxing tape, fighters hungry to match her ferocity or learn from her mistakes. She’s also been an unmistakable figure in the public eye advocating awareness on athlete well-being, something reflected in recent discussions on neurological health in MMA circles—diving deeper than just injuries but long-term brain health issues, a topic she personally confronted.
- Mentoring emerging UFC fighters from underdog prospects to title contenders
- Opening discussions about neurological safety in MMA (source)
- Shifting gender norms within combat sports communities
- Driving fan engagement through reality shows and commentary
For those craving to understand the beating heart of MMA culture in 2025, Rousey remains a litmus test of courage and reinvention. Whether you catch her insights before huge events like UFC 319 or see fighters openly crediting her influence, it’s clear that the venomous flash of her UFC 190 performance remains a respected pillar in the sport’s collective memory.
| Area of Influence | Manifestation | Notable Examples |
|---|---|---|
| MMA Fighter Development | Training mentorship and fight strategy advice | Younger UFC fighters crediting Rousey’s motivational role (source) |
| Advocacy | Raising awareness on athlete health and safety | Public discussions on neurological health and safety protocols |
| Fan Engagement | Media presence and commentary roles | Participating in UFC broadcasts and reality shows |