Female UFC Veteran Bethe Correia Announces Sad News

UFC bantamweight fighter Bethe Correia is out of her January 16, 2021, Fight Island match-up against Wu Yanan. Chiefly, the aforementioned bout came in as the retirement bout of Correia, who has been a pioneer for women’s MMA. The former title challenger will undergo surgery to remove her appendix, and her last fight is set for a delay per MMA Fighting.

Furthermore, it’s unclear whether Yanan will remain on the Fight card that is the UFC’s first of 2021. The card is expected to gain a lot of visibility as the main event is a title eliminator of sorts between Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar. Moreover, the UFC’s coming off a long hiatus, and fans of the sport are pining for action.

Also Read: ‘Kattar is No Joke’- Alexander Volkanovski Breaks Down Max Holloway vs Calvin Kattar Match-Up

UFC women’s bantamweights: Bethe Correia vs Wu Yanan

The 11-5-1 fighter in Correia has had a storied career in MMA with several notable moments that stand-out as being significant. Chiefly, her run that led to a title shot against Ronda Rousey truly remains a highlight in the early days of women’s MMA. However, the 37-year-old certainly has some mileage on her after years of facing the who’s-who in the sport.

‘Pitbull’ lost a decision to Pannie Kianzad in her last contest that took place on Yas Fight Island in July. Ever since challenging for the coveted gold strap, she has unfortunately accrued a losing record of 2-4. This is not to say she hasn’t had some scrappy wins, most notably against powerhouse Sijara Eubanks.

Wu Yanan is a fresh face on the roster, however, she came in with a comprehensive catalog before coming into the company. Yanan has had 3 fights in the famed octagon and has lost 2 of those contests via decision. She accrued a submission win over Lauren Mueller and will be looking to gain some consistency in her career.

Fighting Bethe Correia was a big opportunity to raise her profile, however, that bout is sure to be delayed significantly. From a career standpoint, it would make sense to try to fight another opponent in the meantime to maintain activity. Fighters on the roster in her position will benefit the most from staying the course and competing frequently.