Miesha Tate talks about her UFC comeback and how she plans to recapture the women’s bantamweight title.
Miesha Tate has her sights set on UFC gold ahead of her return to the octagon on July 17.
Tate, who turned 34 last year, will take on No. 12-ranked bantamweight Marion Reneau after a four-year layoff and feels ‘totally reinvigorated’ following retirement.
“I’m so excited, I really am. There is a fire that has been lit,” Tate said on her SiriusXM show (h/t MMA Fighting). “My heart is completely full of passion. I feel like I’m totally reinvigorated. When you know, you know, and I just know. I’ve always been that person to lead with my heart and do what I feel like my calling is in life and it’s never steered me wrong. I’ve been a person that can change direction very quickly and not be afraid to do it. I dive right in if I feel like it’s right and that’s what I’m here to do.
“The sport, it’s been calling for me. Like, let’s not like about that. I feel like it’s been calling me and now it’s time to answer.”
Tate added that she would love to reclaim the UFC women’s bantamweight title and avenge her submission loss to Amanda Nunes, the current reigning champ.
“I’ve got six fights on the contract, I’ve got two years that I know for sure I want to dedicate to this sport,” she said. “But look, anything can happen off of one fight. I’ll be honest, I really don’t know exactly what to expect. That’s what’s so exciting for me… But I can tell you, for the next two years, that’s my plan, to be heavily involved in the sport. Obviously, I want to become a champion again…
“I’d love to run that one back. I would love to fight (Amanda Nunes) again because I know I have the style to beat her. I’m not at all gonna take anything away from her. She’s a scary woman and she hits like a man. I know that. I’ve been in there with her and I’ve seen what she’s done since then. But I know I have the style to beat her.”
Tate last fought at UFC 205, where she dropped a unanimous decision loss to Raquel Pennington. ‘Cupcake’ will return to the cage at UFC on ESPN+ 52, where she takes on Reneau presumably on the main card.