Miesha Tate has retired. The woman who just this last March won the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship has called it a career. This follows her loss to Rocky Pennington, a fight where Tate seemed slower than before.
It’s been an odd year for Tate, who won the title in March at what was one of the biggest shows ever. She then ended up defending it in the main-event of the historic UFC 200. And now she closes her career off fighting in the most famous arena, at what may end up being the biggest UFC show of all time.
On the other hand, while she did beat Holly Holm, it was also a fight that saw her losing the majority of the fight until she secured a 5th round submission. And when she lost at UFC 200 to Amanda Nunes, she was simply overwhelmed and not competitive at all. Then tonight, it was more clear than ever that Tate had lost a step. In that sense, her career both piqued and fell simultaneously.
Miesha Tate’s Legacy
She’ll of course be most remembered for her legendary feud with Ronda Rousey, a feud that was as important to the history of women’s MMA as any other. While Tate was on the losing end of both fights with Ronda, both fights arguably showed how big a female fighter could become, as Rousey’s already successful career reached another level after all was said and done.
At 30 years old, Tate looks to have avoided the fighter’s curse of fighting when they’re too old. A nine year career that began in Evansville, Indiana as part of the famous BodogFIGHT promotion has now ended in New York City at Madison Square Garden.
Amazing woman, a great leader for the sport. She is only 30; don’t be shocked if a year of R&R will have her getting the bug again. If UFC opens a 125 that might entice her to come back