Strikeforce Sets Tate-Rousey Title Bout As March 3 HeadlinerFor only the second time to date, women will headline a major Strikeforce card when Miesha “Takedown” Tate defends her bantamweight title against “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey on March 3rd in Columbus, Ohio. The pair will face off in the main event of the newly-dubbed Strikeforce: “Tate vs Rousey.”

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker confirmed the news with MMARising.com today. Tate became the third Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion by submitting Marloes “Rumina” Coenen in late July. Rousey has yet to taste defeat in seven MMA bouts, but has not yet fought at 135 pounds.

Tate (12-2-0) has amassed an impressive six-fight winning streak since dropping a close decision to former champion Sarah Kaufman in 2009. Along the way, she has scored notable wins over Bellator champion Zoila Gurgel, former Smackgirl champion Hitomi Akano and Coenen in the July title fight. The victory over Coenen marked the first time that the Dutch star had ever been submitted. Tate had been ready to face Kaufman in a title rematch this year, but Strikeforce officials instead opted to give the first shot at Tate’s new championship to Rousey. The decision was unpopular with some, including Tate herself, but it has led to female fighters once again competing in a Strikeforce main event.

Rousey (4-0-0) followed up on her successful 3-0 amateur career with two quick victories outside of Strikeforce before signing with the promotion this past summer. She subsequently made short work of both Sarah D’Alelio and Julia Budd in bouts at 145 pounds before entertaining thoughts of a drop to bantamweight. The move down in weight seems to have paid off for the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist, as the judoka will now get a shot at Tate’s 135-pound title at a time when the Strikeforce 145-pound women’s division looks to be on the brink of collapse. To date, all seven of Rousey’s pro and amateur MMA victories have come via armbar submission and none has lasted longer than 57 seconds.

Strikeforce: “Tate vs Rousey” takes place on March 3rd at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The event marks the first time that women will compete in the main event of a major Strikeforce card since Gina Carano faced Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos in August 2009.

Sarah Kaufman, who faces fellow Canadian Alexis Davis in a rematch on the March 3rd card, headlined a Strikeforce Challengers event in February 2010 when she won the then-vacant bantamweight title in a five-round bout with Japan’s Takayo Hashi.

 

 

(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)

  1. Go, Miesha!

    Send Ronda to back of the line and shut her up, as promised!

  2. I hope Ronda wins, so Sarah can smack her around.
    But I like Tate, her wrestling and sub defense will too much for the one-trick pony.
    I hope I’m wrong.