Bethe Correia targets mid-2018 return after second eye surgery

Bethe Correia was expected to face Irene Aldana in January, but it will take awhile before she’s ready to come back to action.

Correia was pulled from the UFC St. Louis card on Jan. 14 when an eye injury forced her to go under the knife, and was targeting a March return to the Octagon. However, the former bantamweight title challenger revealed to MMA Fighting on Tuesday that her return was postponed once again due a second surgery.

“I had a healing problem and had to do a second surgery to fix it,” Correia said. “I was using eye drops but they weren’t working, so I had to do another surgery by the end of February. Nothing serious, but I had to do it.”

Correia expects to fight again by June or July, she said.

“Pitbull” fought for the UFC bantamweight championship back in 2015, but lost to Ronda Rousey in the opening round at UFC 190. Correia has only won once since, defeating Jessica Eyevia split decision at UFC 203. She hasn’t competed since a third-round defeat to Holly Holm in June 2017.