Healthy Condit eyeing title shot

UFC welterweight contender Carlos Condit has just one fight under his belt after returning from a year away from the cage due to a torn ACL in his right knee, but he believes he was impressive enough to warrant a title shot.

“I think that my performance speaks for itself,” he said after stopping Thiago Alves in the second round of the main event of a card in Goiania, Brazil, on Saturday night.

Condit seized control of the bout when he broke Alves’ nose with a standing elbow early in the second round.

Alves took significant damage throughout the remainder of the round, prompting the ringside physician to recommend the referee stop the fight before the third round began.

“I came out and got the finish against Thiago Alves, who is one of the top strikers in the division,” Condit said. “I didn’t exactly know what happened, but I felt it on my elbow, and I knew he was hurt. I hurt him with the first rising elbow and then with the spinning back elbow. I could just feel the fight drain out of him after I hit him that first time.”

Robbie Lawler will defend the 170-pound belt against Rory MacDonald at UFC 189 on July 11 at the MGM Grand Garden. Condit, who held the interim title for a time in 2012, wants another chance to wear the belt.

“I want whoever has the title in a couple of months,” he said. “Whether it’s Rory or Robbie Lawler, I want that guy.”

Condit defeated MacDonald in 2010. The 31-year-old former World Extreme Cagefighting champion was pleased to get back in the cage and particularly enjoyed the opportunity to fight in Brazil.

“It was amazing fighting here in Goiania,” he said. “My entire career I’ve wanted to come and fight in Brazil. It was an all out amazing experience, the crowd was awesome, the fans were great and to finish a great fighter like that makes it an all-around amazing trip.”

■ CORREIA APOLOGIZES —Bethe Correia isn’t one to back down from her words very often.

In fact, her ability to talk trash and back it up in the cage is a major reason the undefeated 31-year-old Brazilian finds herself in a UFC women’s bantamweight title fight against Ronda Rousey on Aug. 1 in Rio de Janeiro.

The challenger ran into a bit of trouble this week when she joked to Brazilian media outlet “Combate” that she hopes Rousey doesn’t kill herself after losing the belt.

Rousey, whose father committed suicide when she was a child, took to Twitter to express her outrage.

“Suicide is no joke or selling point,” Rousey posted. “My father will be with me the day I hand you the comeuppance you deserve.”

Correia immediately responded through her own accont:

“Never knew what happened to ur dad. I’m humble enough to ask u for forgiveness,” she wrote. “Family is a godly bless to me. See u (at UFC 190)

It’s certainly possible Correia’s comment was an innocent mistake, though the story of Rousey’s father has been well documented.

Correia has on several occasions referenced far lesser known stories from Rousey’s past in her efforts to promote herself and the fight.

■ DROPKICK MURPHYS TO PLAY FIGHT WEEK — Boston rock band Dropkick Murphys has been tabbed to play the free concert the UFC traditionally puts on at the Fremont Street Experience the Friday night of International Fight Week.

This year, that falls on July 10.

Conor McGregor, who will fight Jose Aldo for the featherweight title the next day at UFC 189 at the MGM Grand Garden, has used the band’s biggest hit, “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” as a walkout song.

■ NEW PROGRAM UNVEILED — UFC officials will release details of their Athlete Marketing and Development Program during a news conference at Red Rock Resort on Wednesday.

The event will be streamed at UFC.com at 11 a.m., but will not be open to the public.

It is expected to be the first public appearance of Jeff Novitzky, the organization’s new vice president of athlete health and performance.

Contact Adam Hill at 702-224-5509 or ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.