Bethe Correia, CSAC open up on canceled UFC 227 fight

Bethe Correia was removed from the UFC 227 card, scheduled for Saturday night in Los Angeles, Calif., but who made the call to pull the plug on the fight?

The Brazilian bantamweight, who was slated to face Irene Aldana at the Staples Center, released a long statement on her social media Wednesday criticizing the California State Athletic Commission, saying that CSAC made the decision to remove her from the event because of an eye surgery she had in October 2017, months after a loss to Holly Holm.

”I was surprised by the California Athletic Commission, stating that I couldn’t fight on Saturday because of vision problems,” Correia wrote. “I came aware of my eyes issues. I went through several ophthalmologists part of the Brazilian Society of Ophthalmology. I took care of my health and my eye integrity, even being released by the doctors before the trip.

”I have current reports from three doctors who have been following me since the beginning, reporting that I am released to fight,” she continued. “I acted with dignity! I’ve been, and I’m loyal! I’m fully aware that I can train and compete!”

That doesn’t seem to be the case, though, as CSAC executive officer Andy Foster told MMA Fighting on Wednesday that it wasn’t a commission decision to cancel the bantamweight bout.

”The UFC has pulled her off the card, which they’re entitled to do as a promoter,” Foster said. “The promoter made the decision. The UFC made the decision.”

A UFC official confirmed to MMA Fighting that the promotion determined Correia was unfit to fight.

Aldana also released a statement on her social media, saying that the UFC tried to find her a new opponent, but ultimately opted to pull her from the card as well.

”Very sad for the cancellation of my fight,” Aldana wrote. “I wish a quick recovery to Bethe Correia and I thank to the UFC for really trying to get me a replacement and for their good attention, unfortunately it was not achieved but I hope to compete in some other card as soon as possible. Thanks to my coaches, teammates, family and followers for their support and understanding. I was really prepared and was looking forward for this fight, but I will continue with my training to be ready for what’s next.”

UFC 227, which features a pair of title fights, will proceed with 13 bouts.

Check Correia’s full statement below.

This isn’t the post I’d love to be posting, instead I’d like to be posting that I’ll be fighting on Saturday, with the thrill and adrenaline of the fight, feeling my arms getting up. This is a picture I took last night in my last training, with only 4kg [8.8 pounds] left to lose until Friday.

I traveled to Los Angeles for the UFC with great excitement and as I hadn’t been fighting for more than a year, I did everything in the highest discipline so that nothing could go wrong, I was feeling more prepared than ever with new fighting repertoires and physically stronger.

However, I was surprised by the California Athletic Commission, stating that I couldn’t fight on Saturday because of vision problems. I came aware of my eyes issues. I went through several ophthalmologists part of the Brazilian Society of Ophthalmology. I took care of my health and my eye integrity, even being released by the doctors before the trip.

I have current reports from three doctors who have been following me since the beginning, reporting that I am released to fight. I acted with dignity! I’ve been, and I’m loyal! I’m fully aware that I can train and compete!

Retinal displacement is a common problem in a contact sport, and many fighters have had it, that is so true that in my last five MMA fights, I had already undergone retinal detachment surgery, including the one against Ronda competing for the world title in 2015. I’ve never been rejected by any commission, and I’ve fought in several different countries with the same problem, only here in California “the land of the dreams” they destroyed mine to make my triumphant comeback this Saturday.

I thank the UFC for giving me always challenges and better fights, I just want to say that I’m ready! Trained, focused, strong, in the right weight to any fight and to any event they choose. It was 4 months of camp, preparing myself, training, sweating, bearing high expenses and it hurts too much, with only four [days] left for the big day, receiving this news, preventing me from fighting, even though I feel so well, so prepared. I apologize to everyone for the words, but this situation, in my whole career, is being the most difficult one.