Undisclosed injury forced Bethe Correia to decline Miesha Tate UFC fight, paving the way for Sara McMann

Bethe Correia has made it no secret just what she intends to do to Miesha Tate should the two bantamweights find themselves locked inside the Octagon, as "Pitbull" warned "Cupcake" to get a good mouthpiece to protect her grill from the bevy of punches she'll receive.

Unfortunately for Bethe, she won't be able to back up her words, as an undisclosed injury forced her to decline a bout against Tate that was offered to her three times by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) matchmakers.

She broke the news to MMA Fighting:

"They offered me to fight Miesha three times. The first date was in December, then January and February, but I couldn't take it because I'm injured. I tried to convince my doctor to let me fight, but he said I can't come back before March. I can fight King Kong in March, but I can't fight before. I promised my fans that I would bring the title to Brazil. I will knock out any top five in the first round. That's a promise."

Perhaps this is the reason why Sara McMann won the Tate sweepstakes, as the two will battle it out at UFC 183, which is set for MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 31, 2015 (details).

With Correia forced to sit on the sidelines and Tate set to tango with McMann, "Cupcake" recently told MMA Junkie that she is still interested in trading punches with the "cocky" Brazilian, but facing someone as established as McMann is the better career move, for now.

"I told the UFC that I just want to get back up there to be the No. 1 contender, or get back in that title, kind of realm. Whoever they want me to fight to do that. I definitely have some interest in fighting Bethe because she has a little bit of a loud mouth and she seems pretty cocky. But Sara McMann is No. 2 or No. 3 in the rankings. She probably does more for my career fighting her, at this point. If I beat her, she's an Olympic silver medalist in wrestling, she is really good. So it says a lot, beating someone of her caliber. Having a win over Sara McMann really says more for what I'm able to do."

To conclude, Tate has a message for Bethe:

"I’m still ranked No. 2 and you’re still ranked No. 8, so hold your horses. You’re writing a lot of checks that your mouth might not be able to cash."

By choice or not, Correia will indeed have to hold her horses for the time being.