Miesha Tate returns to action at UFC Fight Night 198 against Ketlen Vieira. This will be Tate’s second fight since her return earlier this year. In 2016, the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion had announced her retirement after a loss against Raquel Pennington.
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In her return fight at UFC on ESPN 26, Tate put on a dominant performance against Marion Reneau. She didn’t look rusty at all and felt at home inside the octagon. She won the fight via TKO in the third round and the ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus.
In the buildup to the fight against Vieira, Tate, in an interview, said, “My driving motivation (for the comeback) is, I remember what it feels like to be the best in the world. I remember what it feels like to be a champion. For the first time, I feel like I’ve been able to let go of a lot of dead weight. I’ve been able to make better decisions and have a more consistent camp, with a better support system.”
“I think it would be such a shame to leave the sport the way that I did. Knowing that I never gave, I was never allowed to or never able to give my full 100 percent. So, realistically, whether I become a champion or not, I had to do this for me. That’s my goal and objective but I have to give my 100 percent. Whatever that is, I’m gonna be happy with it,” she added.
Miesha Tate – Gunning for a title shot
Miesha Tate, before her retirement, was one of the most known fighters in the world. She is a former UFC women’s bantamweight champion, a feat she achieved after beating Holly Holm. She finished the then champion in the fifth round, with a technical submission via a rare-naked choke. However, she dropped the belt in her next fight with Amanda Nunes at UFC 200, before retiring at UFC 205.
Tate, who is back now, sits at #8 in the women’s bantamweight division. ‘Cupcake’ is looking for a potential rematch with the champion, Nunes. However, she doesn’t want to jump the gun and will go through the proper process to get a title shot.
She had a warning for ‘Lioness‘, “Sometimes, you only get one shot and when I take that shot at Amanda, it will be the perfect timing. I’ll have the perfect aim. I will be the sniper to take her out. But I’m not going to jump the gun.”
Amanda Nunes defends her bantamweight title against Julianna Pena at UFC 269. Should ‘The Lioness’ win, and should ‘Cupcake secure another two wins, we could see the UFC 200 main event come to life once more.
What do you make of Miesha Tate’s comeback? Do you think she can challenge for the title again?
