Miesha Tate is no stranger to big moments.
The former Strikeforce bantamweight champion turned UFC contender has been involved in some of the biggest fights to ever hit the women’s mixed martial arts landscape over the past couple of years, and “Cupcake” has seen her profile ascend because of it. The Washington native’s rivalry with nemesis Ronda Rousey was at one time the hottest thing rolling in mixed martial arts, and their two matchups raised the bar on the visibility for fights involving women with each installment.
Those experiences—and the handful of scuffles the 28-year-old has logged inside the Octagon—have kept Tate positioned at the forefront of an energized movement. For her, it’s all about the next big moment and the continuous battle to reach the top of the mountain. Another milestone will be crossed when she returns to action at Fight Night 52 on Saturday night in Saitama, Japan.
When the former title challenger squares off with undefeated powerhouse Rin Nakai, it will mark the first women’s UFC fight to take place on Japanese soil. With the storied days of the now-defunct Pride promotion creating so many memorable moments in the sport, Japan is a place where MMA is heralded and revered. Tate is certainly keen to the high tide of the moment and is honored to get the opportunity to make history on Saturday.
“I’m very excited to come over here to Japan and put on a performance,” Tate told Bleacher Report. “This is a big moment—a historical moment—for women in mixed martial arts and the UFC. This is the first time the UFC has ever put on a fight involving women in Japan. I know it’s an important night, not only for me to get the win, but for women’s mixed martial arts to be represented overall.
“The journey and push to help women’s mixed martial arts is one I’ve been very involved in, and I take a lot of pride in that. I’m thankful the UFC brought me over here and made this fight because I consider it a huge honor to be quite honest. To be the first woman they chose to come over here and represent women’s mixed martial arts for them on Japanese soil is pretty cool, and I think they made the right choice and the fans will agree with me on Saturday.
“With Pride and all of the other great moments that happened here, it’s pretty cool to be fighting at Saitama Super Arena, where there is so much history,” she added. “It’s definitely a privilege and an honor and will be something I will remember for the rest of my days.”
In addition to the bout carrying some historic significance for the UFC, Tate’s upcoming tilt with Rin will come at a crucial juncture of the perennial contender’s career. While she’s undoubtedly one of the best women’s bantamweight fighters in the world, Tate has traveled some rough waters since her time as the women’s 135-pound Strikeforce champion was derailed.
The Xtreme Couture-trained fighter has suffered setbacks in two of her three showings since joining the UFC roster in 2013, and a win over Rin is absolutely necessary for her to remain in the upper tier of the competitive bantamweight mix. That said, Tate has embraced the moment for what it is, and has every intention of making a big statement at Fight Night 52.
“I really love this matchup, and I’m looking forward to it because I know she has a judo background,” Tate said. “She’s been training in judo since she was 3, and her 16-0 record speaks for itself. There is a lot of opportunity here for me to go out and make a statement. To get to be the person who goes out and hands her the first loss of her career in her home country is a big opportunity.
“Plus, she’s also stylistically the closest thing to Ronda Rousey we’ve seen. And if I can go out and get a dominant win over this girl, it really says something. Defeating her will not only send a message to the fans, but also to my bosses Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and matchmaker Sean Shelby. I think they understand the quality of opponent I’m facing, and I get to go out there and do what I do best, which is go out there and beat people up.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
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