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Tag: Miesha Tate

  • Miesha Tate Ain’t Ever Gonna Be Friends With Rival Ronda Rousey, UFC Champ Just Wants To Fight

    Miesha Tate Ain’t Ever Gonna Be Friends With Rival Ronda Rousey, UFC Champ Just Wants To Fight

    After Miesha Tate took on Holly Holm during UFC 196, bagging the Women’s Bantamweight championship, she revealed in a recent interview that she can’t wait to fight Ronda Rousey but expressed her unwillingness to be friends with her.

    After being asked if she sees herself in the future being friends with Ronda Rousey, the new champion answered “hell no.” She even added that there won’t be anything missing in her life by not being chummy with her MMA rival.

    She said, however, that she has a lot of respect for the Furious 7 star when it comes to her skills inside the ring. Yet Tate continued that she has no desire to be connected to Rousey even after their careers have ended.

    The current champion added that she would like to have a match with the former Olympic bronze medalist soon. UFC President Dana White said in a statement that Ronda Rousey could start fighting again by October or November. However, Miesha Tate said that she wants to fight sooner than November.

    Meanwhile, Holly Holm reportedly wants to avenge her loss from Miesha Tate but would still want to a rematch with Ronda Rousey.

    The fight between Miesha Tate and Holly Holm was dubbed as one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. This was after Holm’s epic kick to the head left Rousey knocked out cold during UFC 193.

    The current UFC women’s champion has lost to the once-undefeated Ronda Rousey twice now. However, with her victory over Holly Holm, Tate is eager to do battle Ronda Rousey for a third time.

    It’s been reported that The Expendables actress would not do a rematch with Holly Holm in UFC 200 due to an upcoming movie role, but Rousey’s priorities may have changed now that Miesha Tate is the titleholder.

  • Ronda Rousey Shares Video Proof That She’s Healed From Holm Fight

    Ronda Rousey posted a video this week showing fans proof beyond a doubt that she’s finally healed from her devastating match against Holly Holm last November, and it’s quickly making the rounds across the Web.

    Rousey shared a clip of herself biting into an apple, calling it “breaking news” and saying that the ability to do so just occurred for the first time on Tuesday night.

    “Here’s my breaking news — you ready? This just as of last night. No problem, I’m biting apples again. I’m pretty excited about this. That’s it,” Rousey said.

    Biting into a piece of fruit wasn’t a random display of her hard work at healing up; she specifically said after the fight that it would be three to six months before she could eat an apple again due to the injuries she sustained when Holm kicked her in the face. And while she’s reportedly too busy working on her film career to get back in the ring right now, the development comes at a time when UFC officials are scurrying to figure out what her next move will be following Holm’s loss to Miesha Tate earlier this month.

    Think you can step up to my sixteen second KO? Play #EASPORTSUFC2 and prove it.

    A video posted by rondarousey (@rondarousey) on

    Miesha Tate is champing at the bit to fight Ronda Rousey again; the two athletes have battled it out twice already with Rousey coming out the victor both times, and a rematch would be huge for the UFC, but Rousey is taking time off for a while and it’s unclear when she’ll be ready to come back.

    “I’ve been ready for that for a long time…but I also know that Ronda is not slated to come back until November, and that’s kind of a long time to just sit and be idle…I don’t even know what she’s thinking right now. It seemed like her motivation to stick around was to have Travis Browne’s babies, so…I don’t know,” Miesha said recently.

    Ronda Rousey told Ellen DeGeneres in a recent interview that she had suicidal thoughts after her loss to Holm, and that the only thing that kept her going at first was the thought of starting a family with her boyfriend, fighter Travis Browne. However, Ronda’s video proves that she’s on the mend physically, so if she’s back in a healthy frame of mind as well, Tate would be wise to step lightly.

  • Miesha Tate Considers Defending Her UFC Title Against Amanda Nunes Instead Of Ronda Rousey

    It has not been long since Miesha “Cupcake” Tate won the UFC women’s bantamweight championship belt. Now, UFC officials and fighters are wondering who her next opponent will be.

    Miesha Tate defeated Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm after choking Holms into submission during the fifth round. Will the next contender be Ronda Rousey, her rival in the ring?

    UFC  bantamweight Bryan Caraway believes Rousey should have to “work her way”  to get a title fight with Tate, his longtime girlfriend.

    “If we just keep the cycle of Ronda always in the mix, it’s not really fair for these other girls who put together a win streak and get pushed aside,” Caraway said to MMAjunkie.

    Caraway  thinks the UFC should consider a Miesha Tate – Amanda Nunes match instead.

    “Nunes is on a three-fight win streak and is looking super tough,” Caraway continued. “She finished Sara McMann. She absolutely deserves that.”

    However, UFC Dana White has already decided to match the winner of this previous fight with Rousey. Betting lines had already favored Rousey in the upcoming fight although the match has not been confirmed.

    Caraway said Tate should not fight Rousey right away but she should give Holm the rematch she deserves.

    Miesha Tate has spoken about the issue via Fox Sports: “I am the champion, I definitely want to stay active, I want to defend my belt, I want to continue to prove myself so whatever we all sit down and deem as the best route to do that then I’m ready. I’m ready to take on all comers so I think that’s the champion’s job. I’ll stay ready so I don’t have to get ready.”

    On the other hand, Holm is desperate to get the belt back. She has set a 3-1 record in UFC after defeating Rousey and Marion Reneau.

  • Miesha Tate Says Ronda Rousey Would Rather Have Travis Browne’s Babies Than Come Back To Fight

    Miesha Tate sat down for an interview recently to talk about her win over Holly Holm last weekend, and she was asked about her desire to fight Ronda Rousey now that she’s on top. Tate didn’t pull any punches, saying that of course she’s interested, but the problem is that Rousey doesn’t seem very motivated.

    “I’ve been ready for that for a long time…but I also know that Ronda is not slated to come back until November, and that’s kind of a long time to just sit and be idle…I don’t even know what she’s thinking right now. It seemed like her motivation to stick around was to have Travis Browne’s babies, so…I don’t know.”

    Are those fightin’ words? Hard to say whether Rousey will taken them to heart, since they were her own words when she spoke in an interview about what she was feeling after she lost the belt. Ronda told Ellen DeGeneres that she had suicidal thoughts following her loss to Holm, and that what kept her going was her boyfriend and the thought of a future with him.

    Ronda and Browne have long been rumored to be getting married, but Browne was hindered by the fact that he was still legally married to his ex until just recently. Now, rumors are floating around that they duo may elope soon, but Rousey hasn’t confirmed anything.

    Tate and Rousey have fought twice before, with Rousey coming out the victor both times, and Tate has been eager to get back in the ring with her. Before the Rousey/Holm match, it didn’t look good for Miesha, but now, she says, Rousey is a “broken woman” who definitely has the disadvantage.

    “What about Ronda’s mentality? I think Ronda is beating herself up over this. She’s obviously said that she’s so emotional to the point where she’s considering crazy things and it’s like this is a broken woman,” Tate said on The Jay Mohr Show.

  • Ronda Rousey Says She Has To “Get Back To Work” After Miesha Tate Takes Down Holly Holm

    Ronda Rousey reportedly didn’t watch the shocking match between Miesha Tate and Holly Holm over the weekend, but she did keep in touch with UFC President Dana White during the fight and had a very telling response when White sent her a text to let her know who won.

    “I text Ronda and she said ‘What happened?’ I said ‘Miesha just choked her unconscious’ and she said ‘Looks like I’ve got to get back to work,’” White said.

    Rousey has been in the headlines quite a bit in recent months following a flurry of activity within the UFC world. After her own shocking defeat at the hands of Holly Holm last fall, the former champ disappeared from the spotlight for a bit to heal up and try to figure out where she was going next. Rousey told Ellen DeGeneres earlier this year that she had suffered suicidal thoughts after her first loss, wondering to herself what she was good for if she couldn’t win. The loss was made even tougher for Ronda when some of her “fans” turned on her and went for blood online, where they shared jokes, memes, and harsh words at her expense. Still, the athlete has garnered a loyal following, and many wondered what her next move would be. Would she come back to fight once she healed, or would she stay away after the trauma?

    The answer is, of course, that Rousey is a fighter. Although rumors began to float around that she would fight Holm again in a rematch later this year, it looks like she’ll take a brief break to work on her film career–she’s doing a remake of Road House–and then hit the ring hard to prepare for a fight against Miesha Tate, who has been champing at the bit for another shot at Rousey.

    The duo have fought twice previously, with Tate losing both times, and she has long been vocal about her desire to get another chance.

    “I think that Ronda now will fight Miesha Tate for the title. That’s what’s going to happen. That’s what I said before this fight even happened. Whoever wins tonight will fight Ronda for the title,” Dana White said.

  • Ronda Rousey Will ‘Get Back To Work,’ Gets Title Shot With New UFC Champ Miesha Tate

    It looks like Miesha Tate and longtime rival Ronda Rousey will be seeing each other again in the ring soon. UFC President Dana White confirmed Tate’s next opponent will be Rousey.

    “I think that Ronda now will fight Miesha Tate for the title,” White stated on SportsCenter after UFC 196 in which Tate claimed the title from Holly Holm on Saturday via a rear-naked choke in the fifth round. “That’s what’s going to happen. That’s what I said before this fight even happened.”

    White revealed that Rousey did not watch the fight but he had texted her Saturday’s UFC 196 result.

    “I texted Ronda, and she said, ‘What happened?’ I said, ‘Miesha just choked her unconscious.’ And she said, ‘Well, it looks like I got to get back to work.’ I don’t know what that means – if that means acting or fighting,” White said.

    Rousey and Tate’s rivalry began in 2011 when Ronda Rousey snatched the Strikeforce bantamweight title from Tate in March 2012. A rematch followed and Rousey won, defeating Tate by submission in the third round.

    Tate had just made an amazing comeback in the UFC ring after she choked Holm “The Preacher’s Daughter” in the final minutes of the fifth round. Holm previously dethroned Rousey in UFC 193 in Australia with a kick on the head which put her to sleep. Holm won almost every round but got in trouble when Tate finished the fight with a rear-naked choke which rendered her unconscious.

    Tate will either fight her rival, Rousey or give Holm a rematch, but for now, she just wants to enjoy her victory.

    “The right move feels like drinking a Budweiser and eating cupcakes,” Miesha Tate told the press.

    “… My job as the champion is to fight the next best person, so whoever that is, I’ll fight them,” she added.

  • Holly Holm Not Interested In Hollywood

    Holly Holm will likely not be walking the red carpet anytime soon.

    Holly Holm‘s famous adversary, Ronda Rousey, has dipped her feet in the pool and stayed a while.

    Rousey appeared in blockbusters like Expendables 3, Entourage and Furious 7. She is also slated for the new Roadhouse.

    While it’s still early in Holly Holm’s career, she has said she’s not interested in making movies. She is interested in fighting.

    And Holly Holm says she’s definitely not in it for the money.

    She said, “When you start fighting, you start in amateurs, you don’t get paid anything. You pay money out, because you’re not going to make it back.”

    She added, “You have to pay for your camp, you have to pay for your gas, you put miles on your own car, you’re paying money out in the beginning. I try to have that same passion I had in the beginning.”

    Holly Holm’s upcoming match with Miesha Tate is all about passion, not money. It doesn’t seem to matter to her that this is a huge payday waiting to be grabbed.

    She said of her Tate match coming up on Saturday, “This is the next opportunity. My mind doesn’t function like, ‘If I wait for this, it will be more money.’ That’s just not how my brain functions. There’s never a dollar sign in my mind when I’m thinking about my fighting career. I want the passion.”

    Well, the passion has been good to Holly Holm so far.

    Are you disappointed that Holly Holm may never be in a brawling movie?

  • Miesha Tate, Holly Holm’s Next Contender, Weighs In On Rousey’s Suicide Remarks

    Miesha Tate tried to offer possible clarification this week on Ronda Rousey’s suicide revelation on The Ellen Show last Tuesday.

    Ronda Rousey was on Ellen when she decided to finally speak about her devastating and shocking loss to Holly Holm (who is scheduled to fight Miesha Tate in March) in last year’s UFC 193.

    She said, “Honestly … I was sitting in the corner of the room and was like, ‘What am I anymore if I’m not this?’ I was literally sitting there thinking about killing myself.”

    Miesha Tate, for one, thinks that Rousey didn’t literally mean she wanted to do herself in.

    She said, “When [Rousey] says like, ‘Oh, I was, you know, considering suicide,’ I don’t necessarily think she meant like ‘Oh, I’m going to go home and, you know, actually do it,’ but it just feels like you want to die.”

    As for Miesha Tate, were she in Rousey’s place, she might feel really low, but would never even think of ending her own life.

    Gettin after it!!

    A photo posted by Miesha Tate (@mieshatate) on

    She added, “I’ve never considered taking my own life. For me, especially religiously, it is just never an option for me.”

    Well, it’s a good thing Miesha Tate feels that way, because she could end up in that same situation as Ronda Rousey next month.

    What do you think about Miesha Tate’s comments on Ronda Rousey’s suicidal thoughts admission?

  • Ronda Rousey To Get Rematch, But Miesha Tate Might Get To Holm First

    Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm are both desperate for a rematch with one another after Holm’s defeat of the former UFC champ in November, but there’s a chance Miesha Tate will get to Holm while Rousey is recovering.

    Rousey said in a recent ESPN interview that she was “embarrassed” after her loss because of her unusually wild fighting style. She talked about her injuries as well, saying that Holm’s kick to the face did extensive damage to her teeth.

    “It might be three to six months before I can eat an apple, let alone take an impact,” Rousey said.

    That’s a lot of time out of the cage, particularly for a fighter who was–until that match–at the top of her undefeated game. And while a rematch is in the works, Holly Holm’s manager, Lenny Fresquez, says he’d like to see Holm go up against Rousey’s former adversary Miesha Tate.

    “I’m not sure Ronda will be ready for a July fight. She took a severe beating, and I don’t think it’s in her best interest to take the next fight so fast. Holly’s used to staying active. We’re from the old school, and we believe the No. 1 contender is there for a reason. Tate deserves a shot, but it’s not for me to decide,” Fresquez told the New York Times.

    Ronda Rousey took time off after the fight, all but disappearing other than to reassure fans on social media immediately after the match that she was okay. In her first series of interviews since, she talks about what went wrong, saying her mind was clouded.

    “I wasn’t thinking clearly. I had that huge cut in my mouth, and I just spit [the blood] out at my feet. Then they brought the bucket over, and I’m like, ‘Why didn’t I spit it in the bucket?’ I never spit on the ground. It was like a dumbed-down, dreamy version of yourself making decisions. … I was just trying to shake myself out of it. I kept saying to myself, ‘You’re OK, keep fighting. You’re OK, keep fighting.’” Rousey said.

  • Ronda Rousey: Discolored Feet Lead To Steroid Rumors

    Ronda Rousey suffered a devastating loss earlier this month when she went up against Holly Holm and failed to block a hard kick to the face, and now–after laying low for several days in a row–she’s in the headlines again due to rumors that the appearance of the soles of her feet are from steroid use.

    Though Rousey–like many athletes–has suffered through similar rumors before, the photos of her feet immediately after the fight have circulated around the Web and sparked concern for the MMA fighter. The photos show Rousey sitting in the ring after being knocked out, with her toes a bright shade of yellow and the rest of her feet a painful-looking reddish-purple.

    While some are going with the steroids theory, others are worried that Rousey may be jaundiced. However, some who are familiar with the ins and outs of MMA are saying they’ve had the same issue with their feet and that it’s likely the colors on the mat that have rubbed off onto her skin.

    Still others have brought up Raynaud’s, which causes blood circulation issues.

    “Raynaud’s (ray-NOHZ) disease causes some areas of your body — such as your fingers and toes — to feel numb and cold in response to cold temperatures or stress. In Raynaud’s disease, smaller arteries that supply blood to your skin narrow, limiting blood circulation to affected areas (vasospasm),” reads an explanation from the Mayo Clinic.

    While Rousey takes some time to recover from her loss, her potential rivals have spoken out, with Miesha Tate saying she would love a third shot at Holly and Holly saying she’s down for a rematch if Rousey agrees.

    “Here’s why I think the fight with Holly and I makes sense — for one, I haven’t ever fought Holly before. For two, I was Ronda’s biggest challenge until Holly so obviously I’ve proven that I’m a standout in the division and so is Holly. If Holly would beat me, then they could still set up that great rematch that they want between her and Ronda. If I beat Holly then I’m 5-0 and I beat the girl who beat Ronda, what better case could they ever make to have me fight Ronda again? I think that fight sells itself,” Miesha Tate said.

  • Miesha Tate On Jessica Eye: “It Felt Good To Drop Her”

    Miesha Tate took a victory over Jessica Eye in Saturday night’s UFC fight, but Tate says she’s upset she didn’t get to finish her.

    “It felt good to drop her. Honestly, I’m mad I didn’t finish her, but it’s the best I’ve ever felt going three rounds. I did a new strength training regimen and I felt so strong and I was in such good shape for the fight. I was able to recover in between rounds and I felt awesome. A little disappointed to not get the finish. I wanted to show I had the power in my hands to knock anyone out. I think I proved that tonight. I dropped her a couple of times, and if I would’ve kept a little more space on the ground and kept punching her, I would’ve got the finish but my grappling nature kicked in. She’s a really tough girl, hats off to her,” Tate said.

    Tate won the bout with a score of 30-27, but it was a hard-fought victory. Eye–who Tate called “dangerous” before the match–bloodied Tate pretty quickly and wasn’t about to go down easily after the build-up that preceded the fight. It’s the fourth consecutive win for Tate, but paramount to that is the chance she’ll get to fight Ronda Rousey once more. After having lost twice before to Rousey, overtaking Eye for a shot to redeem herself was important to Tate.

    Although Rousey will have to win her upcoming August match against Bethe Correia in order to take on Tate a third time, UFC President Dana White seems to have no doubts that she’ll take the victory; he said after the Tate/Eye match that Miesha withstood a difficult fight because she had to.

    “Miesha is such a durable human being; she will stand in front of you and take what you’ve got. She was getting picked apart in that first round and she keeps coming forward. She lands where she has to land, she does what she has to do to get the win and she’s worked her way back to Ronda Rousey,” White said.

  • Miesha Tate: “Ronda Brings Out The Best In Me”

    Miesha Tate has a string of wins under her belt following two losses to Ronda Rousey, and even though two of those wins were over title contenders, the idea of a third fight with Rousey still hangs over her head.

    Tate will go up against Jessica Eye on Saturday for a highly-touted match, which will see the winner take on the champ from the August 1 fight between Rousey and Bethe Correia. Seeing as how Rousey has defeated her last three opponents in a combined time of 96 seconds, it’s not unreasonable to believe that Tate and Rousey will go head to head once more. For Tate, the opportunity to go up against Ronda Rousey a third time isn’t so much daunting as it is a chance to prove herself.

    “I could never give up on myself. That would be sad. Especially if you’re a role model like I want to be for others. How could I tell others not to give up on themselves if I gave up on myself? You pick yourself up, learn more, get better and try again. As for this fight, I think Ronda brings out the best in me. I feel as though I learn every time we fight. I think the third time will be the charm,” Tate told Fox Sports.

    Miesha says that doesn’t mean she’s underestimating Jessica Eye; far from it. But she believes she’s the more powerful athlete, and when she makes a hit, she makes the most of it.

    “She’s dangerous, and she’s good in a lot of different areas and I think she’s pretty well-rounded. I really think her biggest strength is on her feet. She has some of the best boxing in the women’s bantamweight division. She has good footwork, she has great head movement and she has accurate punches. Those are essential things to be a good striker. So would I say Jessica is a good striker, yeah, I would. But I feel I’m the better, more well-rounded mixed martial artist. I also feel I’m the more powerful athlete. Sometimes, when Jessica punches, they don’t all matter. But when I hit you, I feel like, ‘It might be one, but it’s going to count,’” Tate said.

  • Ronda Rousey Says Fighting A Man Would Hurt The Sport Of MMA

    Ronda “Rowdy” Rousey is running out of opponents to fight.

    The UFC bantamweight champion has easily dispatched all that have been pitted against her, often within just minutes into the first round.

    She stopped Cat Zingano with an acrobatic armbar in just 14 seconds in UFC 184.

    It has come to the point that people are speculating who can even put up a good fight against Rousey. Some have even come up with hypothetical debates, like who would win between Rousey and undefeated Floyd Mayweather or other UFC men’s bantamweight fighters.

    Rousey herself thinks it’s a “compliment” that people are considering that scenario and has even said that she “could beat 100 percent of them.”

    But despite being flattered by the idea and playing along with it, Rousey has flatly said that she will never fight a man because it sends the wrong message.

    In a candid interview with Yahoo News and Finance anchor Bianna Golodryga, the 28-year-old judoka said she doesn’t “think there should ever be a situation where there is an arena full of people gathered around cheering about a man hitting a woman.”

    She added that instead of helping the sport, it would just hurt it.

    “It’s a real fight. It’s not like it’s a movie or a part of a storyline,” she explained. “It’s an actual man hitting a woman and I don’t think that’s ever acceptable.”

    The UFC fighter also talked about other topics as she promoted her new book My Fight/ Your Fight.

    The outspoken Olympian also shared her views on deflate-gate, doping in sports and talked about her journey to becoming the world’s first female MMA fighter.

    But one topic she didn’t touch on much is her ongoing rivalry with mixed martial artist Miesha Tate.

    “I didn’t even want to devote that much time to her in the book,” the rowdy fighter said. “I could just write a book about why Miesha Tate is a big ol’ bitch.”

  • Miesha Tate Was “Hanging On For Dear Life” After Brutal Injury

    Miesha Tate earned the win in Saturday night’s Las Vegas fight against Sara McMann, but it came with a price: a severe injury that left her unable to see clearly for most of the match.

    McMann broke Tate’s orbital bone in the first round, leaving the UFC fighter shaken. In a post-match interview, Miesha said she knew she had to “dig deep” after realizing how badly she was hurt.

    “Pretty bad. I knew I had to hang on for dear life,” Tate said.

    Tate took to Instagram after the fight to celebrate and acknowledged her fans and sponsors, giving a shoutout to Budweiser for giving her tickets to the Super Bowl tonight.

    “I won!!! I am so excited to be heading to the Superbowl with a win!! Unfortunately I broke my orbital bone in 2 sports early on in the fight, I couldn’t see clearly out of my eye for rounds 2 & 3, I had to dig deep. Sara Mcmann is an amazing competitor, a tough fight for anyone!!” she wrote.

    I won!!! I am so excited to be heading to the Superbowl with a win!! Unfortunately I broke my orbital bone in 2 sports early on in the fight, I couldn't see clearly out of my eye for rounds 2 & 3, I had to dig deep. Sara Mcmann is an amazing competitor, a tough fight for anyone!! Thank you to my team @xcmma & @enice10, my coaches @FollisMMA @BryanCaraway & @JimmyGifford! huge thank you to my management @khimanagement and my amazing sponsors @budweiser @matefit @qore24purifier @olliesoutlet @ezgovehicles @badboybuggies @affliction @RevLabs #ProFitPar Thank you to my fans and One last but HUGE thank u to @Budweiser for my superbowl tickets!!!!! Now it's time for the @Seahawks to win also!! #PhoenixHereICome #RoadTrip #GoHawks #12thMan

    A photo posted by Miesha Tate (@mieshatate) on

    Miesha said during a press conference that she was in quite a bit of pain even though the injury didn’t look too bad to the naked eye, and called McMann “as tough as they come”.

    “I have a really bad headache right now. She clipped me pretty good in the first round and actually broke my orbital bone in two spots, so I can’t look down and this bright light over here is not very comfortable, to say the least. She’s as tough as they come, and she can pack a punch, that’s for sure. I know it doesn’t look bad, but it feels pretty crappy,” she said.

    While Miesha Tate’s injury will take four to six weeks to heal, she’s still got her sights set on a match against Ronda Rousey, her archrival within the UFC world. The women have risen to the top ranks of their sport, dominating headlines as they battle it out in the ring on their personal quests for glory.

  • Miesha Tate: “Cupcake” Won’t Be Returning Your Fan Mail

    Miesha Tate, a.k.a. “Cupcake”, said recently that she won’t be signing autographs for fans expecting return mail anymore, because too many people are cashing in on her signature.

    The UFC star explained on Twitter that it doesn’t make sense for her to keep sending out autographs for other people to make money off of.

    “If anyone is going to sell the photos I sign it should be me, I’m the one fighting and signing. I’d rather give the money to charity. Why should anyone make a dime off what I worked my a** off to build and I get nothing? I sign for fans not sellers. Why should I be expected to do that for free it makes no sense, it’s still work for me. I don’t have respect for those who make money of other people’s hard work,” Miesha Tate wrote in response to a comment.

    Miesha Tate has risen to the top of the UFC game, making headlines alongside Ronda Rousey every time a big match comes up. But it took her a while to earn the respect of many fans, with some assuming that because she looks so feminine, her skills are sub-par. That’s where the nickname “Cupcake” comes in; it’s a reference to her love of baking and a smartass jab at those haters.

    “It used to really, really irk me that people would look at me and say that I couldn’t fight and ‘oh, she’s gonna get handled by this other girl that looks more like a dude.’ And then I would go out there and win. You can’t judge a book by its cover, and that’s where the nickname ‘Cupcake’ came into play. I might look soft or feminine on the outside, but that has nothing to do with what I’m made up with on the inside,” Miesha Tate told NESN.

    For Tate–and most of the women she calls peers–looks play a big role in how they are received in the ring. In 2013, she spoke out about how much attention Rousey gets within the UFC circles because she’s been in movies and is often found on magazine covers.

    “Every single woman that fights MMA has done just as much work as Ronda has, we just haven’t gotten as much turnaround. Those women who came before her haven’t been on magazine covers, they weren’t plastered everywhere by the UFC. They didn’t get the same reward back. She got 10 times back what she was putting in and maybe everyone else was getting 1 to 1,” Miesha Tate said.

  • Miesha Tate Wants Attention, Says Bethe Correia

    Miesha Tate has spoken openly about all the attention her arch rival, Rhonda Rousy, gets in the world of sports due to her bankable looks and film roles, but now another UFC fighter says Tate just wants attention, herself.

    Bethe Correia says that now that Tate has gone up against Rousey twice, she’s calling upon her for a future fight because she knows it will garner headlines.

    “I don’t know why she put herself into this story. I think she saw all the attention I was receiving. Tate had two chances against Ronda and lost both twice. She saw that I’m closer to a title shot, so she wants to use that attention,” Correia said at a press conference this week.

    Correia doesn’t doubt Tate’s abilities, but says it’s a mistake to challenge someone to a stand-up fight when you’re trained in wrestling form.

    “Tate does have good grappling, but she challenged me to a stand-up war. I hope she doesn’t run away…I won’t run away from the ground because I train a lot of jiu-jitsu and judo, and I believe in my skills, but I love to put my hand on someone’s face, especially when someone challenges me. Tell her to find a better mouthpiece. I hope she comes here to brawl,” she said.

    Tate has been outspoken in the past about the attention her fellow fighters receive, particularly Rousey. After UFC President Dana White announced he was planning a comeback match for Gina Carano with Rousey, Tate said it only made sense because the two women were attractive.

    “The only thing that drives that is they’re both attractive. It makes the women’s title hold no value. It makes it look like it’s a joke and they just put whatever’s going to sell. If we’re going to really legitimize women’s MMA as a sport and have it respected as a sport, then you have to treat it as such….women’s MMA has been working to legitimize ourselves for so long, and we finally broke the ice, we’re finally in the UFC, and we’re getting some credibility. Don’t take that away by putting a fight together that is based entirely on looks and has little to nothing to do with skill set,” Tate said.

  • Ronda Rousey Isn’t Set On Taking Hiatus

    Ronda Rousey Isn’t Set On Taking Hiatus

    Ronda Rousey has quickly risen to the top of the ranks in the world of UFC, which has helped secure her a career in Hollywood when she’s not in the ring. Her famous work ethic has a lot to do with her meteoric rise, and she says it’s keeping her from being set on taking that hiatus everyone is whispering about before her big New Year’s fight.

    Rousey will take on Alexis Davis this weekend in a much-discussed battle, but after that she says she’ll be willing to jump back in the ring for the UFC if they need her.

    “I’d like to fight again on New Year’s, take a little break in between then, but the UFC knows if there’s an emergency, or if they need me, I’ll step up on 24 hours’ notice,” she said. “I definitely don’t like resting too much. That high after a win is what I enjoy the most, not sitting around and resting. I can really only enjoy the rest while that high still lingers, so there’s only so long I can enjoy sitting on the couch and eating as much pie as I want and then going to the gym and pressing repeat. I really need that big goal and obstacle to be excited about what I’m doing.”

    Rousey previously said that the outcome of this fight with Davis will have a lot of repercussions and might even affect her standing in Hollywood, where she is working on films like The Expendables 3 and Entourage.

    “The only thing I care about is beating Alexis. My whole fighting career and my whole Hollywood career depend on it,” she said last month.

    Rousey was originally rumored to be going up against Gina Carano for the July 5th fight, a match which was supposed to be a comeback of sorts for Carano. Once word got out, however, several people had a lot to say about it, including Rousey’s arch rival Miesha Tate.

    “The only thing that drives that is they’re both attractive. It makes the women’s title hold no value. It makes it look like it’s a joke and they just put whatever’s going to sell. If we’re going to really legitimize women’s MMA as a sport and have it respected as a sport, then you have to treat it as such….women’s MMA has been working to legitimize ourselves for so long, and we finally broke the ice, we’re finally in the UFC, and we’re getting some credibility. Don’t take that away by putting a fight together that is based entirely on looks and has little to nothing to do with skill set,” Tate said.

    Davis eventually was announced as Rousey’s opponent, and said the match will be one to go in the record books.

    “I feel great. I’m privileged to have this opportunity. Whether the fans are behind me or not, Ronda and I are going to have an incredible fight. Either way, something is going to happen that you’re going to be talking about for weeks on end,” Davis said.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Ronda Rousey: Hollywood Career Riding On July Match

    Ronda Rousey: Hollywood Career Riding On July Match

    Ronda Rousey is a big name in the world of UFC, where she is the bantamweight champion. But these days, she’s also a rising star in Hollywood, appearing in The Expendables 3, Fast & Furious 7, and a silver-screen adaptation of the HBO hit Entourage. However, Rousey says a summer match against Alexis Davis could greatly affect the rest of her career, both in and out of the ring.

    “The only thing I care about is beating Alexis. My whole fighting career and my whole Hollywood career depend on it,” she said.

    Rousey’s impressive stats–9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC–make her a formidable challenger, but Davis says she’s ready to take her on. Davis, a Brazilian jiujitsu black belt, reportedly has the chops to defend herself against Rousey’s armbar.

    “I feel great. I’m privileged to have this opportunity. Whether the fans are behind me or not, Ronda and I are going to have an incredible fight. Either way, something is going to happen that you’re going to be talking about for weeks on end,” Davis said.

    Rousey was in headlines last month after rumors began to spread that UFC President Dana White was planning a comeback for Gina Carano, and that her first fight since 2009 would be against Rousey. As the rumor grew, many had something to say about it, including Rousey’s arch rival Miesha Tate, who was afraid that the reasons for the match weren’t the right ones. Tate said that Rousey’s looks and Hollywood status were to blame.

    “The only thing that drives that is they’re both attractive. It makes the women’s title hold no value. It makes it look like it’s a joke and they just put whatever’s going to sell. If we’re going to really legitimize women’s MMA as a sport and have it respected as a sport, then you have to treat it as such….women’s MMA has been working to legitimize ourselves for so long, and we finally broke the ice, we’re finally in the UFC, and we’re getting some credibility. Don’t take that away by putting a fight together that is based entirely on looks and has little to nothing to do with skill set,” Tate said.

    Davis was chosen for the July 5 match instead, which will take place in Las Vegas. Until then, Rousey will be in training mode and will be putting Hollywood on the back burner. After UFC 175, however, she’ll go back to promoting her projects.

    “All July, I will be doing the song and dance to promote ‘The Expendables 3,’” Rousey said.

  • Miesha Tate: Rousey/Carano Fight Could Hurt Women’s MMA Credibility

    Miesha Tate has worked hard to become a respected name in the world of women’s MMA fighting, and the recent news of an odd matchup has her reeling.

    Tate spoke out recently about a potential fight between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, saying she believes that the UFC might not have the right intentions in mind with its approval of the match. Rousey has become a well-respected fighter in her own right since her debut in 2011, and has moved into the acting world as well. Carano, however, hasn’t been in a professional match since 2009. For her to make a sudden comeback in a fight with the UFC women’s bantamweight champion doesn’t sit well with Tate.

    “The only thing that drives that is they’re both attractive. It makes the women’s title hold no value. It makes it look like it’s a joke and they just put whatever’s going to sell. If we’re going to really legitimize women’s MMA as a sport and have it respected as a sport, then you have to treat it as such….women’s MMA has been working to legitimize ourselves for so long, and we finally broke the ice, we’re finally in the UFC, and we’re getting some credibility. Don’t take that away by putting a fight together that is based entirely on looks and has little to nothing to do with skill set,” Tate said.

    Tate was quick to point out that she thinks both women are attractive, but attractiveness is not what it’s all about. In fact, Tate as spoken out against Rousey before on that very subject.

    “Every single woman that fights MMA has done just as much work as Ronda has, we just haven’t gotten as much turnaround. Those women who came before her haven’t been on magazine covers, they weren’t plastered everywhere by the UFC. They didn’t get the same reward back. She got 10 times back what she was putting in and maybe everyone else was getting 1 to 1,” she said.

    Tate says she’s willing to step in and fight Carano rather than let her take on a comeback match with Rousey.

    “If Gina is serious about making a comeback, then I think I would be the perfect person for her to step in to fight against. I’m not the champion, and it makes kind of a mockery of women’s MMA to have her come in and fight the champion. If she can beat me, I’ll wish her well on her way to the title, and I’ll definitely be rooting for her.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Gina Carano Fighting Ronda Rousey Is A Joke

    The UFC has been diligently working to get former Strikeforce champion Gina Carano to come back to MMA and take on the current UFC women’s bantam weight champion Ronda Rousey.

    Carano has been on hiatus for nearly five years after losing to Cyborg, and some feel that it would be unfair for her to join the UFC and immediately get to fight the champ.

    Miesha Tate recently voiced her opinion on the issue, saying that the possible fight between Rousey and Carano sounds like a joke.

    “I really feel that it’s just kind of a joke,” Tate told MMA Junkie Radio. “It really is. Gina was a great fighter, and she’s a beautiful women. Ronda is a great fighter, and she’s an attractive girl. But to say that Gina should be able to come in after five years of nothing and take on arguably the best female fighter ever? Come on.”

    Tate has fought Rousey twice, and lost both times. She recently landed her first win and says that letting Carano have an immediate title fight would be a set back for women in the UFC.

    “Women’s MMA has been working to legitimize ourselves for so long, and we finally broke the ice, we’re finally in the UFC, and we’re getting some credibility. Don’t take that away by putting a fight together that is based entirely on looks and has little to nothing to do with skill set,” Tate explained.

    “The only thing that drives that is they’re both attractive,” Tate added. “It makes the women’s title hold no value. It makes it look like it’s a joke and they just put whatever’s going to sell. If we’re going to really legitimize women’s MMA as a sport and have it respected as a sport, then you have to treat it as such.”

    Tate revealed that she thinks Carano should take her on first. “If Gina is serious about making a comeback, then I think I would be the perfect person for her to step in to fight against,” Tate said. “I’m not the champion, and it makes kind of a mockery of women’s MMA to have her come in and fight the champion. “If she can beat me, I’ll wish her well on her way to the title, and I’ll definitely be rooting for her.”

    Should Carano be allowed to fight Rousey upon entering the UFC? Leave your comments below.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Liz Carmouche, Miesha Tate Fight A Close One

    Liz Carmouche came to the cage on Saturday evening with enough aggression and drive to dominate the first round, leading opponent Miesha Tate to believe Carmouche would come out the victor of the UFC fight. Tate dug up her reserves, however, and went on to secure a win that was voted unanimously among the judges.

    The athletes put up a hard fight over three rounds, with Tate throwing punches but getting pinned for long periods of time by Carmouche. The first round and first half of the second round went to Carmouche, but Tate came back with more fire and took the final round, bringing her total record to 14-5. It was the first UFC win for her, but she almost thought it didn’t happen.

    “I really thought that… I honestly actually thought that Liz probably won the fight, because she had more riding time,” Tate said. “But I haven’t watched the fight. That’s just what was going through my mind. I knew she won round 1. Round 2, like I said, she kinda just held me there for a while. And from what I heard from other people, the reason that the judges said I won Round 2 was based on damage – the fact that I was staying busy when she was just holding me. I was trying to throw elbows, I had the guillotine attempt, I had the sweep and popped up and did some damage, towards the end of the round. The reason I won the round the round was just based on damage. That’s all I can really say — I haven’t watched the fight.”

    The outcome of the fight might have been on the controversial side for some, since it was difficult to see right away how much damage each fighter gave and received. Even UFC president Dana White was unsure at first which of the ladies had it.

    “I thought Liz won rounds one and two, and I thought Miesha won the third round. But it’s one of those things where if you look at the second round, Liz didn’t really do any damage. She took her down, she held her. If you give Miesha points for submission attempts, it’s not crazy to say that Miesha won the fight either,” said White. “If you want to guarantee yourself a victory, take the judges out of it – finish fights. I’m sure other people thought Liz won the fight too, but if you look at what Liz did, just laid on her and didn’t do any damage, it’s not crazy to say that you could give the second round to Miesha.”

    Image via YouTube