Bethe Correia Announces Injury, Cancellation of Planned January Bout vs. Irene Aldana

An injury to Bethe Correia has scrapped a proposed bantamweight showdown with Irene Aldana early next year.

Correia revealed the news via Instagram on Wednesday. The former title challenger posted a picture of herself in a hospital gown with her left eye covered. Exact details of the injury were not disclosed. The UFC had not formally announced the bout or the event at which it would take place.

“In the first place I want to thank [Irene Aldana] for agreeing to fight with me in January. I was very excited to go to war with a Mexican woman,” Correia wrote. “Unfortunately, I had an accident, had to go through an emergency surgery and my return to the most famous octagon in the world will take few more months. I was so excited to show to the world my evolution and what I learned with my experiences in Thailand and in Texas, anyway ... I'll meet you in the first semester of 2018.”

Correia last appeared at UFC Fight Night 111 on June 17, when she fell victim to a Holly Holm head kick 1:09 into the third stanza of the card’s main event. The 34-year-old Brazilian has won just one of her last five Octagon appearances – at split verdict against Jessica Eye at UFC on Fox 19.

A five-time Invicta FC veteran, Aldana is still seeking her first UFC triumph after to falling to Leslie Smith and Katlyn Chookagian in her first two promotional outings.

In the first place I want to thank @irene.aldana for agreeing to fight with me in January. I was very excited to go to war with a Mexican woman. Unfortunately, I had an accident, had to go through an emergency surgery and my return to the most famous octagon in the world will take few more months. I was so excited to show to the world my evolution and what I learned with my experiences in Thailand and in Texas, anyway ... I'll meet you in the first semester of 2018. Injuries are a part of a fighter’s life and it prepares us for tough battles and for the overcoming of adversity, making us psychologically stronger. I want to thank Dr. Remo Turchetti for the success of the treatment, making me fit and prepared for the next @ufc battles. . Primeiramente queria agradecer a Irene Aldana, por aceitar lutar comigo em janeiro, estava super animada em ir pra guerra com uma mexicana. Infelizmente tive um acidente, tendo que passar por uma cirugia de urgência e minha volta ao octógono mais famoso do mundo será adiado por uns meses a mais. Estava extremamente empolgada em mostrar ao mundo minha evolução e o que aprendi nos meus intercâmbios na Tailandia e no Texas, enfim... encontro vocês no primeiro semestre de 2018. Lesões faz parte da vida de lutador e serve para nos preparar para batalhas duras e com a superação nos deixa psicologicamente mais forte. Quero agradecer ao Dr. Remo Turchetti pelo sucesso no tratamento, me deixando apta para as próximas batalhas no UFC.

A post shared by Bethe (@bethecorreia) on Oct 25, 2017 at 7:39am PDT