Former Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion Miesha “Cupcake” Tate makes her return to the Octagon on January 31st at UFC 183: “Silva vs Diaz” in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tate is set to face off against Olympic silver medallist Sara McMann in a featured bantamweight bout on the card.
Tate has rebounded with back-to-back victories this year since suffering her second loss to UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey in December. McMann also came up short against Rousey, but she got back on track by defeating Invicta FC champ Lauren Murphy in August.
Tate (15-5-0) got off to a rocky start in her UFC career with stoppage losses to current top contender “Alpha” Cat Zingano and Rousey this past year, but she has regained her spot on a short list of title challengers thanks to a pair of much-needed wins in 2014. She outpointed Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche at UFC on FOX 11 in April and most recently handed Bantamweight Queen of Pancrase Rin Nakai her first defeat at UFC Fight Night 52 in Japan. A victory in January may earn Tate another shot at the UFC women’s bantamweight title that is currently held by Rousey.
McMann (8-1-0) was seen as one of the biggest threats to Rousey’s UFC crown, but the Olympic wrestler suffered a quick and disappointing loss to the judoka at UFC 170. A devastating knee to the body left McMann unable to continue and Rousey was declared the winner in 66 seconds. McMann began her quest to earn a second fight with Rousey by defeating former Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion Lauren Murphy at UFC Fight Night 47 in August. She will take a big step up the 135-pound women’s rankings if she is able to defeat Tate in their bout next year.
UFC 183: “Silva vs Diaz” takes place on January 31st at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event features a middleweight bout between Anderson “The Spider” Silva and Nick Diaz.
(Photo Credit: UFC)
Horrible, horrible match-up for Tate. Mcmann is her superior in every aspect of the game.
Physically and athletically McMann is world class and clearly superior to Tate, but I believe Tate is mentally far superior to McMann. And I think mental toughness plays a huge role in MMA and is the reason Tate has done so well in her career. When Rousey was set to fight McMann, she said “The difference between Sara and me is that I’m willing to die before I lose, she [McMann] isn’t. She [McMann] has a family, a young daughter, she has too much to lose to be willing to die in there.” Which is how that fight played out. As with Rousey, I believe Tate’s mindset is that she is also willing to die in the cage. This is why Tate is the only fighter to have made it through a full round with Rousey (and did so twice in one night), and I think this will be the difference when Tate fights McMann. I just think Miesha wants to win more than Sara. But it will be a great, great fight – #3 vs. #6.
As far as fighting constantly for submissions….tate is superior…but that is the extent of it. Mcmann wins by decision…maybe