Bethe Correia Unhappy with UFC 227 Removal, Says She Received Clearance from Three Doctors
Tristen CritchfieldAug 01, 2018
Bethe Correia is well aware of the eye issues that have plagued her during her career, but she claims she took the necessary steps to be able to compete at UFC 227.
Nonetheless, the Las Vegas-based promotion announced Tuesday that Brazilian bantamweight had been pulled from her bout with Irene Aldana on Saturday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Correia was previously scheduled to face Aldana at UFC Fight Night St. Louis in January but had to withdraw from the event to undergo eye surgery. She later underwent a second procedure this year that further delayed her Octagon retina.
Correia’s eye issues date back to a detached retina suffered in 2014, an injury which also required surgery. Still, the former title challenger is adamant that she received the necessary clearance to compete.
“I went through several ophthalmologists’ part of the Brazilian Society of Ophthalmology. I took care of my health and my eye integrity, even being released by the doctors before the trip. I have current reports from [three] doctors who have been following me since the beginning, reporting that I am released to fight,” Correia wrote on Instagram. “I acted with dignity! I've been, and I'm loyal! I'm fully aware that I can train and compete! Retinal displacement is a common problem in a contact sport, and many fighters have had it, that is so true that in my last [five] MMA fights, I had already undergone retinal detachment surgery, including the one against Ronda competing for the world title in 2015.”
While Correia blamed the California State Athletic Commission for her removal, both CSAC executive officer Andy Foster and a UFC official confirmed to MMAFighting.com that it was the promotion that deemed Correia medically unfit to compete.
“I just want to say that I'm ready! Trained, focused, strong, in the right weight to any fight and to any event they choose,” Correia wrote. “It was [four] months of camp, preparing myself, training, sweating, bearing high expenses and it hurts too much, with only [four days] left for the big day, receiving this news, preventing me from fighting, even though I feel so well, so prepared. I apologize to everyone for the words, but this situation, in my whole career, is being the most difficult one.”