[protected-iframe id=”ea43057751dbf003038089ec29a8f08e-60970621-24613583″ info=”” width=”650″ height=”400″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no” webkitallowfullscreen=”” mozallowfullscreen=”” allowfullscreen=””]
Prior to completely decimating Bethe Correia on her home turf at UFC 190, Ronda Rousey dedicated the fight to her friend and “Rowdy” namesake Roddy Piper:
Thank you for the name… and so much more… Will do it justice and do you proud tomorrow. This one’s for you, Roddy…
An emotional Rousey briefly touched on it during her post-fight interview before leaving the octagon, but elaborated on her relationship with Piper a bit more during her interview with Ariel Helwani:
I actually got a chance to sit down and talk to him for a couple hours before this fight. I didn’t have time for anything, but I was like, “No, I have to go see Roddy. I have to go to Piper’s Pit!” We talked for hours. I even told him, I promised I’m gonna do the name proud. “I’m gonna do you proud. I’m gonna go beat this chick.” I told him that.
And that she did. Rousey knocked Correia out after just 34 seconds of utter dominance.
Rousey explained that she was on the way back from weigh-ins when she heard the sad news of Piper’s passing. Rousey appeared on Piper’s recently defunct podcast on Podcast One back in April to talk about her impending fight against Correia. Though the podcast has since been removed, Piper warmly reiterated his respect and admiration for Rousey and women’s MMA, and the pride he took in her taking on his nickname.
When asked by Helwani if she’s the kind of person who believes that he and her father would be watching down on her, Rousey simply responded, “I’d like to think so.”
