A high-stakes women’s bantamweight bout is in the making for UFC on FOX 8 on July 27 — provided one of the potential participants gets a doctor’s note first.
Miesha Tate and Liz Carmouche are in talks to meet at Seattle’s Key Arena. But the bout will be on the condition Tate, who is under a medical suspension, is cleared to compete by a doctor. MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani reported the news on Tuesday’s edition of Fuel TV’s UFC tonight.
The fighters were on the wrong ends of the first two women’s bouts in UFC history after putting up spirited efforts in exciting fights. Carmouche (7-3) lost to bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey via armbar in the closing seconds of round one of their UFC 157 main event on Feb. 23. Tate was up on the scorecards of her April 13 bout against Cat Zingano at The Ultimate Fighter Finale before Zingano rallied for a TKO win.
An added incentive for Tate is that Key Arena qualifies as a hometown fight, as the former Strikeforce champion is a native of nearby Tacoma.
Tate (13-4), who was finished by Zingano with a series of knees to the face, could be out until mid-October with her injuries. However, if cleared by an ear, nose, and throat specialist, Tate could be eligible to resume full-contact training as soon as June 13.
No word as of yet whether Tate vs. Carmouche, if it takes place, would occur on the main card, which would make it the first UFC women’s fight on network television.