Quite simply, Miesha Tate delivered the goods.
The 135-pound contender was favored entering Friday’s first-ever Strikeforce female tournament, and after making it through Maiju Kujala in the night’s opening round, Tate outlasted a game Hitomi Akano to earn a unanimous decision, a tournament-winner’s belt and a future shot at the welterweight belt.
The single-night tournament was featured at Friday’s Showtime-broadcast Strikeforce Challengers 10 event at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz.