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UFC on Fox 16: Can Miesha Tate Earn 3rd Shot at Ronda Rousey?

Miesha Tate continues her trek back toward the women’s bantamweight title and Ronda Rousey when she takes on rising contender Jessica “Evil” Eye at UFC on Fox 16 this Saturday.
Tate is the highest-ranked women’s bantamweight currently on a winning stre…

Miesha Tate continues her trek back toward the women’s bantamweight title and Ronda Rousey when she takes on rising contender Jessica “Evil” Eye at UFC on Fox 16 this Saturday.

Tate is the highest-ranked women’s bantamweight currently on a winning streak, but she has already come up short against Rousey in their two previous bouts. Will she be able to get past Eye and earn the opportunity to stand across the cage from Rousey a third time?

Trilogy fights are uncommon when one fighter has lost the first two bouts, but they aren’t unheard of. Relative to her contemporaries, Tate has fared a whole lot better against Rousey. She remains the only person Rousey has fought to make it out of the first round.

In their rematch back at UFC 168 in December 2013, Tate defended several Rousey armbar attempts and lasted until the third frame before succumbing to the champion’s finisher. It was thought that her second chance to dethrone Rousey would be her last. But in a division that Rousey is wreaking absolute havoc upon, Tate’s current resume puts her back near the top of the heap.

A win over Eye would be Tate’s fourth straight victory since that loss to Rousey. She won three hard-fought decisions over Liz Carmouche, Rin Nakai and Sara McMann.

To notch that fourth straight win, she’ll have to get past an extremely motivated and dangerous fighter in Eye. The evil was on full display in Eye’s last fight, when she pieced up Leslie Smith so badly that her ear was nearly punched off.

She didn’t hesitate to zero in on the damaged ear of Smith, and she used the opportunity to secure a second-round TKO win after the cageside doctor had seen enough.

If Eye can keep things standing, and use her speed and reflexes to pick Tate apart on the feet, the fight is hers. Conversely, if Tate can close the distance and get the fight to the ground, she can grind out a decision. She needs to avoid getting drawn into a firefight and time her opponent’s attacks to counter effectively.

Eye will be a stiff test for the former Strikeforce champion, but if she leaves Chicago victorious, she should be next in line for Rousey. Eye has yet to face the champ, so if she gets past Tate, she would be a fresh matchup for Rousey coming off a very high-profile win.

A title challenger often has to take the scenic route back to contention after losing to the champion. Tate has done that. She’s fought other challengers who have lost to Rousey in Carmouche and McMann, and she took on a UFC newcomer on foreign soil against Nakai.

Aside from a meritorious standpoint, the Rousey vs. Tate matchup sells itself. The fact that Tate lost to Rousey is secondary to the narrative that she has taken the champion into (relatively) deep waters. Up until Bethe Correia’s extremely poor choice of words about Rousey, Tate had been the only fighter to really draw emotion out of Rousey.

The venom flows so naturally from Rousey when it comes to her thoughts on Tate—and her boyfriend Bryan Caraway for that matter. The two are like oil and water, and in the fight business, that mix equals dollar signs.

Tate has nearly worked her way back to another UFC title shot and a chance to redeem herself against the biggest adversary of her career. Although Eye is a dangerous striker and capable finisher, Tate has the tools and the veteran poise to earn the victory and square up one more time with the Rowdy one.

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Miesha Tate vs. Jessica Eye: A Head-to-Toe Breakdown

UFC on Fox 16 on Saturday will be co-headlined by a possible title eliminator at 135 pounds when No. 2-ranked contender Miesha Tate (16-5) squares off against No. 5-ranked Jessica Eye (11-2, 1 NC).
Tate has a storied history with Ronda Rousey, but she …

UFC on Fox 16 on Saturday will be co-headlined by a possible title eliminator at 135 pounds when No. 2-ranked contender Miesha Tate (16-5) squares off against No. 5-ranked Jessica Eye (11-2, 1 NC).

Tate has a storied history with Ronda Rousey, but she has failed to defeat her in two attempts. Tate has been working back to a title shot, and a win on Saturday should put her above all other contenders. Since dropping her last fight to Rousey, Tate has reeled off three wins over Liz Carmouche, Rin Nakai and Sara McMann.

Eye is not on a winning streak, but being a fresh face for Rousey gives her an advantage over other fallen contenders. Eye’s last bout was a TKO win over Leslie Smith.

Rousey takes on No. 7-ranked Bethe Correia on August 1 at UFC 190. The winner of Eye vs. Tate would make sense as the next contender based on resume and timing. As a result, the UFC on Fox 16 co-main event has high stakes.

This is your head-to-toe breakdown of this compelling bantamweight showdown.

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Jessica Eye Ready to Make Statement, Earn Title Shot with Win over Miesha Tate

Jessica Eye is ready to make her case for a shot at the UFC women’s bantamweight crown, and she plans to do that at the expense of Miesha Tate at UFC on Fox 16.
The scrappy Ohio native began campaigning for a title opportunity following her lopsided vi…

Jessica Eye is ready to make her case for a shot at the UFC women’s bantamweight crown, and she plans to do that at the expense of Miesha Tate at UFC on Fox 16.

The scrappy Ohio native began campaigning for a title opportunity following her lopsided victory over Leslie Smith at UFC 180 last November, in a fight where her crisp striking literally forced her opponent’s left ear to explode.

Granted, the visual effects of her work were a gruesome mess, but the talents she showed en route to her win in Mexico City started a groundswell of buzz that the proud Cleveland representative was ready for much bigger things in the women’s 135-collective.

While the opportunity to face dominant champion Ronda Rousey would eventually go to Bethe Correia in the main event at UFC 190, “Evil” found herself rewarded with a high-profile bout of her own. The 28-year-old Strong Style fighter will face perennial contender Miesha Tate in the co-main event at UFC on Fox 16 in Chicago on July 25, in a high-stakes tilt that is highly likely to generate the next threat to the women’s bantamweight crown.

Where UFC gold is undoubtedly Eye’s ultimate goal, she sees her upcoming fight against the former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion as an even bigger opportunity than what a potential bout against Rousey could have provided. She feels overlooked and underrated by the passionate MMA fanbase, and that is a condition she intends to change when she steps into the Octagon against Tate.

Eye admits there is no shortage of motivation for her heading into the bout and plans to bring more than her opponent and the MMA community ever thought she was capable of.

“This fight is important to me on so many levels,” Eye told Bleacher Report. “A win over Miesha [Tate] will put me next in line for a title shot, but I also believe it will prove what I’m capable of. I think a lot of fans and media look at my record, and they just don’t realize what I can do in there. They look at my record, but I’m not sure many of them have actually sat down and watched those fights.

“I don’t think they know what to expect from me. This fight against Miesha for me is actually bigger than fighting Ronda Rousey because it’s going to solidify what my abilities are in the eyes of fight fans. It’s going to solidify the fact that I’m an amazing fighter and a top contender.”

There will be plenty on the line in regard to the race for title contention in the tilt between Eye and Tate at UFC on Fox 16, but the fight also presents an interesting matchup on the stylistic side of things.

Where the Washington state native has primarily relied on her grappling pedigree to find success throughout her career, Eye’s versatile striking skills have been the key to her success inside the cage. Aggression is an attribute both women have in large supply, and those combinations have the makings for an exciting tilt at the top of the women’s bantamweight fold.

That said, while Tate may have more experience in high-profile tilts on her resume, Eye is confident she will present problems the former women’s 135-pound title challenger has never faced under the bright lights of the sport’s biggest stage. Eye believes her striking is simply on another level and that—in addition to the strength of her all-around game—will be too much for Tate to handle on fight night.

“I don’t think there is anyone in the UFC women’s bantamweight division that is using MMA striking the way I do,” Eye said. “Strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk definitely uses it and uses it well, but I’m talking about MMA striking in my division.

“I’m not talking about basic boxing and keeping a narrow stance, but about MMA boxing and being able to use it as it’s needed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone else in my division with the ability to throw hands the way I can in addition to throwing my kicks the way that I do.

“I don’t think anyone else has that ability, and I don’t think Miesha has ever fought anyone like me. Maybe in her head she thinks she has, but there isn’t another fighter who fights the way I fight right now in the women’s bantamweight division. There just isn’t. Ronda is the only one out there pulling off these crazy armbars, and she gets to claim that, just as I’m claiming to be the best at what I do in there.

“I’m very excited for the fans to see this fight,” she added. “I don’t care who she is as a person in or outside of the cage; the only thing on my mind is going in there and collecting a paycheck and giving my fans a reason to smile. I think a win in this fight gets me the next shot at the title, and that’s exactly where I want to be.”

Duane Finley is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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UFC on Fox 16: Can Jessica Eye Knock Off Perennial Contender Miesha Tate?

UFC on Fox 16 plays host to a critical bantamweight matchup between No. 2-ranked contender Miesha Tate and No. 5-ranked Jessica Eye. This could be a title eliminator taking place in Chicago.
Tate is riding a three-fight winning streak in her attempt to…

UFC on Fox 16 plays host to a critical bantamweight matchup between No. 2-ranked contender Miesha Tate and No. 5-ranked Jessica Eye. This could be a title eliminator taking place in Chicago.

Tate is riding a three-fight winning streak in her attempt to earn a third shot against Ronda Rousey. Eye is coming off a gruesome win against Leslie Smith last November. This fight will be a big test for Eye in her attempt to get the elusive title shot. Is she able to beat Tate to earn that opportunity? Absolutely.

Eye has all the tools to win this fight.

The Cleveland native loves to brawl, and she has a high output. Her FightMetric numbers show her landing 5.26 significant strikes per minute. Unfortunately, she also absorbs 4.6 per minute. Still, her output is more than three times as high as Tate’s significant strikes.

The numbers indicate that this will be a striker vs. grappler matchup. Tate will want to put Eye on her back. Tate is a decent wrestler, and Eye’s stats don’t show her to be a great defensive grappler. This could play right into Tate’s game plan, but the numbers are a bit misleading.

Eye is a smart fighter. There is little doubt she is preparing to stifle the takedown attempts, and she is not inept on the mat either. If Eye is able to keep the fight standing, her boxing will be on display.

She holds a slight reach advantage over Tate, and the footage shows who is the better striker. Tate’s boxing is rudimentary. She uses it to get inside, but it is not technical in any sense. Eye, on the other hand, has much better boxing. She should be able to touch up Tate and easily slip to avoid Tate getting inside to grapple with her. In a three-round fight, Eye could easily take a decision by point fighting.

Even though Tate will be seeking the takedown, she has a penchant for getting caught up in striking battles. She does not mind a brawl, but approaching a fight with Eye that way would be a mistake. If the Ohioan can suck her into a stand-up battle, she will punch her ticket to a title fight.

This being a three-round fight drastically helps Eye. Tate would be more able to grind in later rounds when the pace slows, but in a three-round fight, Eye can let her hands go with ferocity. She won’t tire in 15 minutes, and the judges will be more easily swayed by punches connecting than grappling. Tate must be successful in her takedown attempts.

We have seen time and again what happens when grapplers have their early takedowns stuffed. It is demoralizing, and it forces them to spend time searching for different ways to get the fight to the floor. It allows the strikers more time to rack up points or land fight-altering blows. The first round will be vital in Eye vs. Tate.

Who wins next month will come down to where this fight takes place. Tate will not win standing against Eye. Can Eye keep the fight on the feet? It will not be easy, but she has the ability to do just that. This will be a close fight and a fun one. If Tate fails to put Eye on the canvas in the first round, expect to see the evil one getting her hand raised at the end of the fight.

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Miesha Tate Open to Catchweight Bout with Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino

UFC women’s bantamweight Miesha “Cupcake” Tate may have opened up the pipeline to the Octagon for Cris “Cyborg” Justino.
Speaking at a recent fan Q&A session in Manila ahead of UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber this past weekend, Tate was aske…

UFC women’s bantamweight Miesha “Cupcake” Tate may have opened up the pipeline to the Octagon for Cris “Cyborg” Justino.

Speaking at a recent fan Q&A session in Manila ahead of UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber this past weekend, Tate was asked about taking on the 13-1 Brazilian powerhouse.

Cupcake answered confidently (h/t Fightland):

That’s my job. I have to fight anyone they put in front of me and obviously I’m not scared of anyone. So yes, I would [fight her at catchweight]. But I heard Cyborg is signed to fight at 135, so I would prefer to fight her in my weight class. If they had a 125 [division], I’d like to go down, but they don’t, so it’s 135 for me. That’s the weight class I prefer to be in.

Currently, Tate is booked to fight Jessica Eye July 25 at UFC on Fox 16 in Chicago. With a win there, Tate said at the Q&A, she would want another a title shot against the winner of the UFC 190 main event between current champion and UFC superstar Ronda Rousey and her next challenger, Bethe Correia.

“After I fight her, hopefully the word on the street is that I will get another fight with Ronda,” Tate said.

If that doesn’t come to fruition, a fight against Cyborg would be hotly anticipated by MMA fans across the globe.

For years, fans and critics have touted Cyborg as the biggest challenge to Rousey‘s throne, but a variety of roadblocks have prevented the bout from happening.

First, Cyborg has never fought at the 135-pound limit, and Rousey is uninterested in moving up to meet her at featherweight or at a 140-pound catchweight.

Cyborg was slated to make her bantamweight debut in December 2014 at Invicta FC 10, but that bout fell apart when she pulled out with an injury. Cyborg has fought once since then, defending her Invicta featherweight title against Charmaine Tweet at Invicta FC 11 in February.

Presently, Cyborg is slated to fight at Invicta FC 13 in July, again at featherweight.

As such, it may take a catchweight bout—like the one Tate mentioned in Manila—to officially get Cyborg inside the UFC Octagon.

Whether she fights at 140 pounds or dedicates herself to making the cut to 135, her presence under the UFC banner could be huge, and a bout opposite Tate could set the stage for the Rousey vs. Cyborg superfight we’ve wanted for so long.

For now, though, any mention of Cyborg outside the featherweight division is speculation. While Tate’s acceptance of the hypothetical matchup is nice to hear, it’s far from official, and Cyborg to the UFC remains a “believe it when you see it” case.

Still, it’s fun to think about, and a Tate vs. Cyborg matchup would undoubtedly represent one of the biggest fights of the year.

Who would you take in this showdown? Could Tate get it done, or would Cyborg steamroll her way to another victory?

Rising Star Marion Reneau Wants Miesha Tate, Alexis Davis in Next Fight

Marion Reneau made a big impression in her first two fights.
Now she wants to capitalize on that momentum with a bout against a top contender in the UFC women’s bantamweight division.
“Let’s go for the top,” Reneau said Thursday in an…

Marion Reneau made a big impression in her first two fights.

Now she wants to capitalize on that momentum with a bout against a top contender in the UFC women’s bantamweight division.

“Let’s go for the top,” Reneau said Thursday in an interview with MMAjunkie Radio (h/t MMAJunkie.com). “Let’s go for Miesha Tate. Let’s go for Alexis Davis. Let’s go for those girls who are right next to No. 1. Let’s go.”

Tate is currently ranked No. 2 and Davis No. 3 in the official UFC women’s bantamweight rankings. Davis is currently set to fight Sarah Kaufman in April, but Reneau‘s essential point—that she has earned a fight with a contender—still holds.

Reneau (6-1) made her UFC debut not even two months ago. She was an underdog to world-class grappler Alexis Dufresne but looked every bit the favorite. She outstruck the overmatched Dufresne for three full rounds and earned a convincing decision victory which included memorably lopsided judges’ scorecards of 30-26, 30-26 and a very rare 30-25.

Just six weeks later, she was at it again. Once again the underdog, this time against Jessica Andrade, Reneau overcame an early knockdown to tap out Andrade with a triangle choke less than two minutes into the first round.

“It was super-important for me to show my jiu-jitsu,” Reneau told reporters after the fight. “There was a comment made where my brown belt was mentioned as equal to her blue belt, and I had to show it that this didn’t make any sense. I am a legitimate brown belt. My brown belt can’t match your blue, ever.”

Reneau‘s sense of urgency is understandable. Not only is she rolling with a huge head of steam, but she is actually closer to the end of a conventional professional athlete’s timeline. The California native is 37 years old and as such may not have a massive number of fights in front of her, despite her relative youth in the sport.

To date, Reneau‘s wins have been so emphatic, her microphone presence so polished, that UFC president Dana White was compelled to do something he rarely does: apologize in public. Reneau had previously tried out for The Ultimate Fighter but was told she was too old for the reality show.

“She looked awesome, and I have to publicly apologize to her,” White said to the media after her victory over Dufresne. “She tried out for The Ultimate Fighter, and I told her she was too old. So I was wrong again.”

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