MMA fighter Miesha Tate announced her retirement from the UFC on Saturday evening.
“It’s not my time anymore,” she announced, per SportsCenter, after losing a unanimous decision to Raquel Pennington at UFC 205 in New York. “It’s the future’s time.”
She added she hadn’t made the decision before the fight and instead was inspired to hang up her gloves after losing.
“I had a lot more to give, but I couldn’t pull it out of myself,” she said in her post-fight interview. “You know, it’s been a long time taking a lot of punishment. I still love this sport. I love you guys so much. Thank you, but this is it for me.”
You can see her full comments below:
Tate, 30, finished her career with an 18-7 professional record. The former UFC bantamweight titleholder, who also won the Strikeforce bantamweight title, is one of the most decorated female fighters in the sport’s history.
She’s defeated some of the biggest names in MMA, including Holly Holm, though she lost both of her matchups against Ronda Rousey by armbar submission. Not surprisingly, many in the MMA community acknowledged her legacy, including Cris Cyborg:
Tate, without question, will be remembered as a pioneer in MMA. She was a champion at a time when the women’s division was still growing in popularity and finding its feet, and she leaves having helped secure its place in professional sports.
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