Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is locked and loaded with its biggest pay-per-view (PPV) bullet, Ronda Rousey, who will attempt to defend her 135-pound women's title tonight (Sat., Aug. 1, 2015) against undefeated challenger Bethe Correia inside HSBC Arena in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
Let's get one thing clear: On paper, this is a terrible mixed martial arts (MMA) mismatch.
Rousey is virtually an unstoppable female force, crushing opponents in seconds and/or minutes who have way more impressive resumes than her opposition later this evening in the pay-per-view (PPV) main event. Corrieia -- even though she is currently undefeated as a professional -- more or less talked her way into the evening's must-watch main event.
Correia made an insensitive remark months ago, hoping Rousey wouldn't "kill herself" after she was "humiliated" in a loss to her. Perhaps the trash talk would have flown under the radar, but Rousey lost her father to suicide when she was only eight-years-old, and does not speak about it very often.
Company President Dana White has since stated that it was a calculated move, even though Correia has pleaded ignorance. Regardless, her statement -- and defeats of fellow "Four Horsewomen" -- fueled a raging emotional fire.
Rousey is mad as hell, even considering prolonging the fight just to "punish" the Brazilian for everything she has said and done. It should be real interesting to see how she tamps down her emotions, if at all, and handles Correia like most experts -- and oddsmakers -- predict.
Before all that happens, though, UFC 190 will also feature a great rematch in the co-main event between 205-pound Brazilian legends, Mauricio Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, who first collided nearly a decade ago under the Pride FC umbrella in what was considered at the time a "Fight of the Year" candidate.
"Shogun" Rua, however, has dropped four of his last five bouts and "Lil' Nog" has done marginally better, winning just one more bout in the same range. Clearly, neither fighter is in their prime, but perhaps the match up will once again ignite fireworks.
The PPV-televised portion of UFC 190: "Rousey vs. Correia" will begin at 10 p.m. later this evening. In addition to the aforementioned main- and co-main events, the PPV will feature the two final fights of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): "Brazil" 4: Fernando Bruno vs. Glaico Franca (Lightweight) and Dileno Lopes vs. Reginaldo Vieira (Bantamweight).
Prior to the PPV, UFC 190 will deliver six undercard "Prelims" matches. The first two bouts will stream online via UFC's online digital network, "Fight Pass," at 7 p.m. ET before transitioning to television on FOX Sports 1, which will broadcast the remaining four fights starting at 8 p.m. ET.
If you are just a casual UFC/MMA fan who catches a handful of events here and there, UFC 190 should definitely be on your must-watch list -- Rousey is Mike Tyson-esque, so much better than everyone else in her weight class.
You just need to see what she does next ... and how (fast).
In the meantime, to get up to speed on all things UFC 190, including previews, predictions, interviews, breakdowns, analysis and so much more be sure to check out the most comprehensive collection of stories available anywhere for "Rousey vs. Correia" right here.