UFC on FOX 16's Miesha Tate shocked Ronda Rousey hates Bethe Correia more than her

Once more, this time with feeling.

UFC women's Bantamweight fighter Miesha Tate may be fighting Jessica Eye at UFC on Fox 16 in Chicago on Saturday (July 25, 2015), but her mind is still on the champion, "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey. Tate confessed during a scrum to reporters Friday that she misses being the number one most despised person on Rousey's list, as that honor recently passed to Brazilian bruiser Bethe Correia.

"I'm very shocked that I've been demoted to the number two spot of most hated on Rousey's list," said Tate, laughing. "So I've got to hand it to Bethe, she really has her work cut out for her and that is a hard thing to accomplish."

Although Tate complimented Correia's 9-0 mixed martial arts (MMA) record, she said the No. 7-ranked women's Bantamweight fighter is in a "little bit over her head" going into UFC 190 next weekend (Aug. 1, 2015). But, although Rousey is in an "entirely different league" than Correia, Tate is certain she can play in the big leagues in a third fight with Rousey.

"I feel like it's good for me because I feel like I adjust to the situation better and better every time and I think that if anybody's going to beat Ronda I feel like it's going to be me," she said. "I think it would be different because I feel like I learned so much in that last fight about my striking abilities and the fact that she just doesn't take a punch well. She doesn't like to get hit so you know it was a big mistake for me to shoot in and try to get those takedowns."

You'll forgive some fans for rolling their eyes here. Tate was massacred in her first fight against Rousey in 2012, succumbing via obligatory armbar with 13 seconds left in the first round of the Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Championship.

In a follow up match at UFC 168, Tate became the first woman to survive longer than 4:49 with Rousey, tapping to the armbar 58 seconds into the third round of a fight dominated by the champion. However, Tate's accomplishment may have had more to do with an apparent ability to take a beating than a testament to her competitiveness inside the cage.

Still, you've got to admire the persistence and courage of a woman willing to fight not just Rousey, but also "Cyborg" at a heavier weight class.

Tate conceded that in order to get any chance of creating buzz for that trilogy with Rousey she's going to need to finish Eye and "prove" she deserves the fight.

"It would be a big mistake on my part -- especially as a veteran -- knowing that underestimating someone can lead to your own demise."

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC on FOX 16 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the Fight Pass "Prelims" matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET, and then the remaining under card balance on FOX at 6 p.m. ET before the FOX main card start time of 8 p.m. ET.