UFC Fight Night 111 results: Holly Holm starches Bethe Correia via third-round knockout

Women’s bantamweight contenders Holly Holm and Bethe Correia fought to stay relevant today (Sat., June 17, 2017) at UFC Fight Night 111 live on Fight Pass from inside Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.

Holm, famous for knocking out Ronda Rousey by head kick knockout, has had a difficult career since, losing her title at the last second to Miesha Tate, then dropping a decision to top contender Valentina Shevchenko. An ill-fated trip to women’s featherweight, which saw Holm lose to Germaine de Randamie at UFC 208, is better left unmentioned.

Holm opened the bout feinting on the outside. A minute and a half went by with Holly feinting and Bethe throwing but coming up well short. Holly landed two side kicks to the body. Over halfway through the opening round, Holm’s kicks were the only strikes of note that had landed. Holm finally stepped in and they traded rear hands. Holm landed another side kick. The crowd booed as the round came to an end.

The second round began as the first had ended, with more feinting and side kicks from Holm. Correia caught one of the kicks briefly but nothing came of it. Holm was standing a bit closer, looking to step in with flurries. Bethe came forward with a rear hand and Holm countered with a lead hook. Holm doubled up on a lead hook. In a surprising move, the referee, Marc Goddard, warned both of them for timidity, saying “I respect the game plan, but we’ve got to make something happen. Make contact.” Correia landed a spinning backfist. Holm hit a body kick. They go back and forth on superman punch attempts, then Correia closed the distance, but couldn’t secure a takedown from a rear body lock before the round ended.

“Let’s make it happen, girls” were referee Marc Goddard’s words to open the third round. Holm landed a roundhouse kick off the arms of Corriea. Corriea dropped her hands, beckoning Holm to come fight. Out of nowhere, Holm landed a question mark head kick! Bethe sat down, stunned, and Holm stepped in with one final punch to end it. What a finish!

In the post-fight interview, Holm said that she wanted to make it look clean, and said this fight was for everyone that supported her through this difficult time. As John Gooden said, she has righted the ship with this win, and will find herself back in the mix at women’s bantamweight.

Official result: Holly Holm def. Bethe Correia by KO (1:09, round 3)

For complete UFC Fight Night 111 coverage, including play-by-play, click here