Michael Jordan is known as the basketball player that kept many other greats from winning an NBA championship. Men such as Karl Malone, John Stockton and Charles Barkley never lifted the Larry O’Brien trophy over their heads because Jordan always had t…
Michael Jordan is known as the basketball player that kept many other greats from winning an NBA championship. Men such as Karl Malone, John Stockton and Charles Barkley never lifted the Larry O’Brien trophy over their heads because Jordan always had the final laugh.
Miesha Tate has a similar situation in the form of Ronda Rousey. Even though Miesha may never hold UFC gold, she deserves to be recognized as one of the best in women’s MMA.
Miesha Tate is a special individual within the women’s bantamweight division. She overcame being badly hurt by Sara McMann in the opening round of their fight at UFC 183 to earn a majority-decision victory. This gave Tate her third straight win and more importantly, a win over the then-ranked No. 3 competitor within the women’s division. Even though McMann has been moved down to No. 4, that win is perhaps Tate’s biggest to date.
Tate is a former champion, winning the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight title back in 2011. That title was snatched away by Rousey, and Tate has yet to be able to give her any payback. She’s 0-2 against the “Rowdy” one and that fact may keep many from recognizing Tate as one of the best female fighters to ever compete.
Tate knows she’s far off from earning another shot at the champion.
“I’ve already told everyone I’m willing to do what it takes to get back to that. I’m not asking for it right now. I’m not asking for any handouts. I’m willing to put my nose to the grindstone,” Tate said during the post-fight press conference for UFC 183 (video provided by MMA Fighting). “I’m willing to beat all of the other top contenders until I am the only option left if that’s what I have to do.”
That may be the path Miesha has to take in order to get back into the Octagon with Ronda. Earning a win over her rival would help solidify the argument she is among the best in women’s mixed martial arts.
Yet those who know Tate and the true history behind women’s MMA know Tate already deserves recognition that may not immediately come when describing her legacy.
“I have mixed feelings as far as recognition goes,” Tate said in a FightLand piece by Sascha Matuszak. “I know I that had a big part to do with women’s mixed martial arts, and I was paving the road when no one was paying attention to that road; fighting for free my first six fights, scrounging to find opponents, fighting girls 20 lbs bigger than me, no regulations, no medical, no insurance…we were just trying to make a way, trying to get women’s mixed martial arts noticed.”
The time has come for that recognition. Tate doesn’t currently have a UFC title reign to her resume, and she may never reach that point. Whether that happens or not should not impact the credit she deserves for being one of the top women in the sport.
Miesha Tate is as savvy as they come. The former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion might have fallen short against current division champion Ronda Rousey, but her ability to grind and scrape together wins against the rest of her peers is …
Miesha Tate is as savvy as they come. The former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion might have fallen short against current division champion Ronda Rousey, but her ability to grind and scrape together wins against the rest of her peers is as remarkable as it is unspectacular. Tate’s winning mentality was on full display at UFC 183 this weekend, as she gutted out a decision against Sara McMann.
However, Cupcake finds herself in an unusual position. Despite being in the top three of the division, it’s doubtful the UFC brass will be eager to offer another title shot until more time has passed since her last bout with Rousey.
What are Tate’s options? Let’s engage in some speculation.
If Miesha Tate ever wants to get another grudge match with longtime rival Ronda Rousey, she needs to start stringing together impressive victories.
A big win over Sara McMann at UFC 183 would be a start.
The former Strikeforce champion has …
If Miesha Tate ever wants to get another grudge match with longtime rival Ronda Rousey, she needs to start stringing together impressive victories.
A big win over Sara McMann at UFC 183 would be a start.
The former Strikeforce champion has made her name from two fights with the current UFC titleholder, Rousey. As the only fighter to take Rousey to a third round, Tate stands out as one of the most recognizable names in the women’s bantamweight division.
Since losing to Rousey, she’s added two wins to her record, but neither was altogether impressive. First, she edged out Liz Carmouche, who is now 1-3 in her last four fights. Tate then coasted to a unanimous-decision win over UFC newcomer RinNakai.
There’s nothing wrong with those wins, but they aren’t necessarily big enough to generate buzz for a third match with the champion.
Enter Sara McMann. The 34-year-old former Olympian would also like a shot at redemption against Rousey. Her bid for the title was stopped at just 1:06 into the first round. A hard knee to the body made her the first woman to lose to Rowdy by something other than an armbar.
But McMann hasn’t exactly made an impact since losing either. Her first fight back was a split-decision victory over Lauren Murphy.
Here’s a look at the tale of the tape, latest odds and buzz surrounding this fight along with a prediction as to which contender will emerge with some serious momentum toward a title fight.
Odds via Odds Shark as of Jan. 29, 2015 at 10:30 p.m. ET
What They’re Saying
Miesha Tate might be best known for her feud with the woman holding the belt, but that doesn’t mean she’s kept quiet leading up to this bout.
The creation of this matchup started back when Tate got her win over Nakai. McMann took to Twitter to present perhaps the most well-mannered callout in the history of MMA:
Tate then responded in the most respectful way possible:
However, as the actual bout gets closer, Tate hasn’t been as mild-mannered in declaring her intentions for McMann in the Octagon. “OK, you called me out,” Tate said per Steven Morocco of MMAJunkie. “I’m going to show you what that entails. It motivates me to think I’m going to stop her in her tracks and I’m going to continue to move forward.”
Since the fight opened, the odds have swung in McMann‘s favor, according to Odds Shark. This is likely attributed to McMann‘s extensive wrestling background. Not only does she have a silver medal from the 2004 Olympics to her name, but she’s also coming off a fight in which she scored five takedowns against Lauren Murphy, according to FightMetric.
However, Tate doesn’t feel like she should be written off because of that. Tate is looking to push McMann to determine whether the former Olympian is a well-rounded mixed martial artist, via Morocco:
I still feel like she’s timid on the feet. Sometimes you see her get hit, and you can tell that immediately she has to revert to wrestling. I think I’m a little more willing to give a punch and take a punch. I don’t know how it’s going to translate, who’s going to be better in the MMA wrestling. I think that’s probably the exciting part of it: We’re going to have to go out there and see what’s going to happen.
Even McMann would agree with Tate to some extent. She does know wrestling and finds it to be her comfort zone. As she told Duane Finley of UFC.com, at a certain point, instinct is a tough thing to control:
I know that regardless of any game plan that I have, it is unbelievably difficult for me to get close to somebody and not take them down. It really is so difficult for me, but I’ve been working on it. I’ve learned to be a bit more selective and take it when the moment is right and not just because I can. I think Miesha is going to try to wrestle me because that’s what she’s good at. She came out and tried to take Cat Zingano down right away and Cat is a good wrestler. I hope she comes out shooting because it’s something I’ve always been good at handling.
Who winds up being better at MMA wrestling is going to be a deciding factor in this matchup. Whereas most fighters would tend to avoid the department against a former Olympian, Tate does seem to be embracing the challenge.
Prediction
Looking at what both fighters have done lately, it’s hard to look at this bout objectively and not think that McMann is going to control the fight. Styles make fights, and it doesn’t get much worse stylistically for Tate.
According to FightMetric, Tate has been taken down six, five and three times in her last three bouts going back to the loss to Rousey. That’s 14 times in three fights. Conversely, McMann has 11 takedowns in her last three wins, not including the subminute loss to Rousey.
That means that not only is Tate’s takedown defense a weakness, but it’s been exposed by lower-caliber grapplers than McMann.
McMann might not have the power to finish it, but she should definitely have enough to score a unanimous decision.
LAS VEGAS—The fun part about a Nick Diaz fight isn’t really the fight itself.
Not that there’s anything wrong with the fights. Diaz is exciting, what with his constant motion and punches and trash-talking.
But it’s the other stuff, the stuff that…
LAS VEGAS—The fun part about a Nick Diaz fight isn’t really the fight itself.
Not that there’s anything wrong with the fights. Diaz is exciting, what with his constant motion and punches and trash-talking.
But it’s the other stuff, the stuff that goes along with Diaz, that makes him such an attraction. That’s why media members completely encircled Diaz’s empty podium 20 minutes before the brash Stockton native was set to show up for Thursday’s media day.
Anderson Silva, the greatest fighter in the history of the sport? Five media members awaited his arrival, which came 23 minutes after he was scheduled to arrive.
Make no mistake: For those of us who are looking for quotable bits and pieces, Diaz was the attraction, even when the great Silva was in the room.
Diaz was the attraction because Wednesday he pulled a Diaz move, skipping the traditional fight week open workouts after missing several UFC-scheduled flights. On Tuesday, he showed up at the airport in Sacramento, put his bags on the plane, walked to his gate and then, in his own words, “had to go home for some things.” He turned around and left the airport, leaving UFC officials scrambling.
“When we got to the airport I was like, I think I’d just rather sleep in my own bed tonight,” Diaz said. “I think they were gonna try to jam me up with a bunch of things.
“I apologize to all the fans, especially the ones that were here to see the open workout. I didn’t really put too much thought into it. I was just more focused on the fight,” Diaz said. “I’ve pulled the same card a couple of times. It’s pretty inconsiderate of me. I apologize to all the fans who were anticipating a show on Wednesday.”
Yes, Diaz has pulled the same card a couple of times. For UFC officials, it is nothing new. This time, they were ready to capitalize, turning his absence into a marketing angle that set MMA‘s social media space on fire. Dana White tweeted a photo of Diaz on a milk carton. The promotion worked it into its highly popular online Embedded series. In short, the UFC did what promoters do best, which is take the cards they are given and play them to their advantage.
Diaz wasn’t surprised at the UFC’s decision to use his absence as a fight-week storyline.
“They’re gonna have something regardless. They’re gonna say whatever they want to say,” Diaz said. “They had fun with it. That’s fine. They’re gonna do what they like.”
Diaz is the most interesting character in mixed martial arts precisely because he is as real as they come. He hates media obligations. But when he does them, he opens up in a way few others do with raw-nerve honesty. He repeatedly noted on Thursday that he wasn’t going to rush to Las Vegas to fulfill media commitments when his only obligation was to show up on Friday, make weight and fight on Saturday.
In his mind, those are the moments he committed to. Everything else falls by the wayside if he so chooses.
“For me, mixed martial arts isn’t a career. It’s an opportunity. Today is an opportunity,” he said. “I have to work myself up to these things. I make the best out of the situation.”
After 30 minutes of conversation, UFC representative Reed Harris signaled that Diaz’s time in front of the media was up. It was a curious thing; the other nine fighters available for media stuck around another 30 minutes. Not Diaz. He walked over to the fans stuck behind a barricade and signed autographs for a few minutes before disappearing with his massive bodyguard into a back room, emerging 30 minutes later for his faceoff with Silva.
It took an extra day, but Diaz showed up. And when he did, he proved once again that he’s one of the most intriguing people the sport has ever seen. And perhaps the magic of Diaz is that we get such limited doses and so few chances for actual face time.
Even if it is not intentional, he makes the moment count.
Silva, Diaz Are Polar Opposites of Jones, Cormier
The media day faceoff earlier this month between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier was as heated as they come, an intense and public moment between two fighters who didn’t like each other and did not mind showing it.
Thursday’s faceoff between Silva and Diaz? Not so much. Diaz looked as though he wasn’t sure how to act or handle himself with an opponent he respects. He awkwardly pointed at Silva before lifting his fists up for the photo op and then bowed to the former middleweight champion.
Unlike many opponents in the past, it appeared as though Diaz won’t be working himself into a frenzy in order to face Silva. Whether that’s a good or bad thing, we’ll find out Saturday night.
After the faceoff, Silva spotted longtime coach and friend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in the crowd. Followed by his anxious (and massive) bodyguards, Silva surged through the assembled media and hugged Nogueira, and Big Nog gave him a huge smile in return. The pair hadn’t seen each other in a while, and it was a happy reunion.
After speaking with Nogueira briefly, Silva spent nearly 30 minutes signing autographs and taking photos with the fans in attendance. He laughed and joked and gave off the appearance of a man without a care in the world.
During a media scrum earlier, Silva repeated his belief that the Diaz fight represents his UFC debut all over again. If his tour de force Wednesday open workout and general mannerisms are to be believed, the rest of the UFC’s middleweight division might be in trouble.
Tate Plans Super Post-Fight Party
Win or lose, there will be no Vegas clubs for Miesha Tate after her bout against Sara McMann.
Instead, Tate, longtime boyfriend Bryan Caraway, mother Michele and stepfather Rob will rent an RV and drive to Phoenix, home of Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. Tate asked sponsor Budweiser for tickets to the Super Bowl prior to the Seahawks’ thrilling January 18 game against the Green Bay Packers. The beer giant obliged.
“But I knew it would be much more life-changing and memorable if my team was there,” Tate said. “That was a pivotal moment. For me, it’s way more awesome to go there and support my own local team.”
Things worked out perfectly. Tate will face McMann, and a win would move her one step closer to her ultimate goal of a third fight with Ronda Rousey. Then, she’ll hop on an RV—ideally with another win in her back pocket—and drive the four hours to Phoenix to support her favorite football team while eating the kind of tailgate junk food she has denied herself for the past eight weeks.
It has the makings of a perfect weekend.
Woodley Still Believes in the People of Ferguson
It has been nearly six months since Tyron Woodley watched his hometown of Ferguson, Missouri, spiral out of control after the shooting of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown.
Woodley is part of the fabric of Ferguson. He was on Canfield Drive just two days before police officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Brown on the same street. In August, he told Bleacher Report that he was skeptical of real governmental change in Ferguson; racial tensions have existed in the city for as long as Woodley can remember.
In November, a grand jury decided not to indict Wilson for the shooting. Ferguson exploded anew. Violent protests broke out. Looters crashed into local businesses, stealing anything not nailed down while the national news aired the madness live.
Woodley was disappointed with the decision not to indict Wilson.
“Our justice system failed us. The city failed us. Not that he should have been found guilty. But the due process wasn’t served,” Woodley told Bleacher Report. “I feel like the case was strong enough that it should have at least been taken to court. There’s still some kinks in the system. It’s wrong on both sides. Hopefully, this stops the sweeping underneath the rug, and they’ll really address what’s going on in the government.”
Woodley said he’s disappointed in the Ferguson government but still believes in the people, and that the looters America saw on national news did not represent the city.
“They were professional opportunists who didn’t even live in Missouri. Ninety-nine percent of the people who live in Ferguson were peacefully protesting,” he said. “That’s what activists do: They say ‘this is wrong, I don’t believe it and I’m going to peacefully show it.’ The people that used it as an opportunity to steal and loot, they’re idiots and morons. They’re a disgrace to society and the human race.”
Gastelum Reserving Judgment on Reebok Deal
Fighters and their managers began learning more about the new partnership between the UFC and Reebok at the UFC Fight Night card in Boston in January.
Earlier this month, Bleacher Report revealed the details of the new Athlete Outfitting Policy, which goes into effect beginning with the July 6 card in Las Vegas. But one thing is still missing, and it’s the most important detail of all: how much the fighters will make from the deal.
Welterweight Kelvin Gastelum, who faces Woodley in Saturday night’s co-main event, said he is reserving judgment on the deal until he finds out how it will impact his checkbook.
“I can’t say until we know the dollar amount. A lot of people are going to be losing a lot of money,” Gastelum said. “But until we see the dollar amount, we won’t know how to react.”
It is a common refrain among fighters, especially those with good sponsorship deals like Gastelum. He is sponsored by Bad Boy, an iconic brand in the mixed martial arts space, and the company pays him a monthly salary to promote its brand.
But beginning in July, the UFC will force all fighters to wear Reebok for all UFC-sanctioned appearances.
What will happen to Gastelum’s deal with Bad Boy or with Urijah Faber’s deal with Torque, once those brands are no longer able to appear on UFC broadcasts?
Many questions remain on the Reebok deal, and it could be months before we have definitive answers. In the meantime, the fighters play the waiting game just like the rest of us.
All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
UFC 183 is the final event of what has been an action-packed January for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The story revolves around the return of Anderson Silva and his battle against the outspoken Nick Diaz. Yet there are many other important fight…
UFC 183 is the final event of what has been an action-packed January for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The story revolves around the return of Anderson Silva and his battle against the outspoken Nick Diaz. Yet there are many other important fights that will occur on the undercard.
One of those features Sara McMann and Miesha Tate, two women who are amongst the best in the women’s bantamweight division. But this does not mean they are fighting for a shot at Ronda Rousey.
The UFC recognizes Tate and McMann as two of the best women who are a part of the 135-pound group. In the company’s official rankings, they are in second and third positions, respectively. The top-ranked individual is Cat Zingano, who is poised to challenge Rousey at UFC 184. So what does this mean for the winner of the Tate-McMann fight on Saturday? That question has not been directly addressed.
Both Tate and McMann have turned around their careers since recent losses to the champion. Tate is riding a two-fight win streak, while McMann defeated Lauren Murphy in August. These wins were enough to keep them recognized as the No. 2 and No. 3 fighters in the division, yet they weren’t enough to garner another shot at the title.
This fight should be recognized as an opportunity to keep these athletes busy while not removing any up-and-coming contenders they would potentially defeat.
Still, that does not mean this is not a valuable contest. Both competitors are aware how important a win would be at UFC 183.
“A win over Tate in this fight gives me the chance to tell the UFC to give me another title shot,” McMann told Duane Finley for UFC.com. “I believe I am the person to beat Ronda and want them to put me against her again. I’m stronger, better, faster and more aware than I was the last time I fought her and really want the chance to do it again.”
Tate has similar feelings about her chances in facing and defeating Rousey down the line. But she also knows that she has to get through McMann before any such battle can occur.
“She [Ronda Rousey] motivates me to be a better fighter and a better person. A stronger fighter and a stronger person. So I kind of revel in that,” Tate stated to Damon Martin of FoxSports.com. “It’s something I look forward to and I hope I will have another chance to fight her. I think beating McMann makes a great argument.”
Sara McMann and Miesha Tate are two of the top names in the women’s bantamweight division. Although they are standouts in the weight class, they were both unable to take the title from Ronda Rousey. Their fight at UFC 183 may not be a direct title eliminator, but they both believe a victory will put them on the path toward another title shot.
If