Cat Zingano knows all too well what it’s like to lose on the biggest stage in mixed martial arts (MMA).
After putting together an undefeated professional record of 9-0, she was thwarted in just 14 seconds at UFC 184 by then Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women’s Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey by first-round straight arm bar.
Since that Feb. 2015 meeting, Zingano has yet to make her return to the Octagon and Rousey has most recently lost her title to current bantamweight queen Holly Holm at UFC 193 via second-round knockout.
In a recent interview (shown below) with Ron Kruck of “Inside MMA,” “Alpha” talked about Rousey’s unforgettable defeat and her impending return to the Octagon.
“Nothing can stay great forever, nothing can stay horrible forever,” said Zingano. “Life is constantly changing. Those moments that we are losing, those moments that we’re down, those are all going to change into something that ultimately makes us stronger.”
It has been just about 13 months since Zingano last fought, but the 33-year-old Minnesota native has her eyes set on nothing except a rematch with current champion Miesha Tate, who recently submitted Holm at UFC 196 to win the belt and was also previously defeated by Zingano via third-round technical knockout at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 17 Finale.
“Being that I’ve had a year off, they really want me to come back and have a tune-up fight,” added Zingano. “The fight that I want the most clearly is Miesha [Tate]. Seeing her win that fight and the fashion that she won that fight, it definitely put a fire in my spirit to want to get back out there and fight her.”
Zingano’s complete arsenal would certainly make for good viewing in a reboot with “Cupcake,” but the UFC may opt to save Tate for a trilogy fight with Rousey this November or an out-of-division duel with Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino sometime in 2016.