Ronda Rousey must have known when she wrote her autobiographical tell-all "My Fight/Your Fight" that her fans and contemporaries would be given a glimpse into her life’s journey that otherwise would have remained shrouded in mystery.
Rousey documents her rise to MMA superstardom, her desires and fears as an early 20-something Olympic hopeful, and all the bumps in the road along the way.
One particularly stunning revelation that “Rowdy” makes in her book is that after her Olympic run in 2008, Rousey became addicted to painkillers and alcohol. The period of her life even saw Rousey living out of her car at different points.
The personal nature of her book is a great way for fans to learn more about the superstar fighter who finishes her foes in mere seconds. It is also a way for her future opponents to learn more about the champ, and if they so choose, use her openness in print to try to get inside her head.
Rousey’s next opponent, Brazilian Bethe Correia, hasn’t pulled any proverbial punches in the buildup to their Aug. 1 showdown at UFC 190 in Rio de Janeiro.
First, Correia told Brazilian outlet Combate that when she beats Rousey, she hopes Rousey doesn’t go back on drugs. But then Correia crossed a major line – one she may very well regret crossing.
"I want to knock her out, show to everyone that she is a lie," Correia said. "She wants to stand up with me, let's see. I want to humiliate her and show the world she has no MMA. She is focused on movies, books…
"Under pressure, she is proving weak. When her mom put pressure on her, she ran away from home. When she lost, it was because of drugs. That's not a superhero. She is not mentally healthy; she needs to take care of herself. She is winning, so everybody is around her cheering her up, but when she realizes she is not everything that she believes she is, I don't know what might happen. I hope she does not kill herself later on (laughs)."
One of the topics in Rousey’s book is the suicide of her father when Rousey was just a child. Her father suffered a traumatic accident earlier in his life that left him with crippling back pain. When the pain became too much, he killed himself.
Rousey talks about the incident in her book and admits that, “none of us were the same after that.”
It is unclear if Correia is aware of Rousey’s father’s tragic end, but given her familiarity with Rousey, it sure seems as if the Brazilian has been reading up on the champ.
There are some things in sports and entertainment that are sacred. It’s one thing to sell a fight; it’s another thing to prop up a bout by bringing in someone’s family history – a history, which in this case, is marred by personal tragedy.
Maybe this was Correia's way of poking the bear, trying to throw Rousey off her game. But considering this bear has finished her last two opponents in a combined 30 seconds, maybe it's unwise to prod. Especially with a dig as tasteless as that.
What do you think? Did Correia knowingly step over the line, or is this just a case of someone’s mouth running wild?
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