Dana White: UFC 190's Bethe Correia intentionally used suicide remarks to play 'head games' with Ronda Rousey

Remember when Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women's Bantamweight title contender Bethe Correia jiu-jitsued her foot in her mouth when she said she hopes Ronda Rousey doesn't commit suicide after getting humiliated at UFC 190?

It was an awkward, insensitive comment because Rousey's father committed suicide when she was younger. One day later the Brazilian apologized and protested ignorance, however, the remarks soon earned her the No. 1 spot on Rousey's most-hated list (much to the chagrin of Miesha Tate).

But, according to UFC president Dana White, Correia's suicide remarks were entirely intentional.

Talking on CBS Sports Radio's The Doug Gottlieb Show, White said she "absolutely" knew the context:

"She's been playing that game. There's people that are really good at playing the head games. Conor McGregor is one of the best I've ever seen, and Bethe has been doing that for sure. But Ronda's a tough one to do it (against). Ronda is one of the most mentally strong human beings I've ever met in my life."

As expected from a fight promoter, White had nothing but praise for "the biggest star in the history of female combat sports," adding the armbar specialist is a "beast" inside and outside of the Octagon and is a "one in a million" kind of fighter.

Damn, does Correia even stand a chance?

"If you watch Bethe train, she's got knockout power, man. Anybody with heavy hands and knockout power can change everything in one punch. There's never a case where you should go in and let somebody stay in the fight. You've seen it in boxing, though. There's been fights in boxing where a guy wanted to punish another guy (when) he could put him away, and he backs off and lets him get off the ropes so he can punish him some more. It's been done before. But, you don't want to do that. You want to go in and finish a fight as fast and as decisively as you can."

If Correira was playing mind games with Rousey perhaps she should make a $3 million bet with the boss that she'll finish the champ inside of two rounds.

Hey, it worked for another famous trash talker.