Issue 098

February 2013

Women entering the UFC Octagon is a massive step for the sport, and it’s exactly what needed to happen to take women’s MMA to the next level and get us the recognition we deserve. It’s the platform that will allow us to perform the way we are already, but with the exposure we deserve. 

MIESHA TATE

The former Strikeforce champion talks women in the UFC

Everyone is starting to realise there is value in women’s MMA, and we fight really hard and people are entertained when we fight. And, at the end of the day, that’s what matters. People will pay to see us fight, so it makes money. And it’s going to be around for a long time.

I’m proud of where women’s MMA is now, as I played a big part in that. I’ve been in the sport for many years, long before Ronda Rousey turned up on the scene. I started fighting aged 19, on small shows, and all that effort helped to get women’s MMA onto TV, and headlining big shows.

I can’t say that it doesn’t irk me my biggest rival is getting all this extra attention – I’d be lying if I said it didn’t. But, at the same time, it also really motivates me. It motivates me a lot. Nobody stays on top forever, and when it’s her time to fall I’ll be right there, ready to pick up the pieces. 

I may not be moving forward quite as rapidly as Ronda is, but I’m very much still here and I still have a presence, and I’m looking forward to the rematch.

And I definitely imagine the rematch will happen inside the UFC Octagon. I can’t imagine it happening any place else. I don’t believe they’ll look past her most competitive opponent as a future challenger. Our rematch would be a great headliner again. And it will be a very different story when we fight for a second time.

I’ve openly admitted my problem in the first fight was I let my emotions get the better of me. I let it cloud my thinking. But it’s something I’ve been working on and it’s something I’ll definitely have in check for the rematch, when it happens.

I’d never dealt with someone that was so head strong, and talked as much smack. Usually, the women are very respectful of one another and so it was something I’d never actually experienced before. I let her get right under my skin and, heading into the fight, I honestly didn’t think it would affect the way I fought. But, they say hindsight is better than foresight, and when I got into the cage there were times when I just saw red.

I wasn’t really aware of what I was doing. I was just fighting, somewhat aimlessly. I abandoned the game plans and I allowed her to dictate where the fight went, simply by not fighting smart. I fought with emotion rather than with my head. But I’ve definitely learned from that. I’ve learned how to laugh things off and keep my focus.

She used me as a stepping-stone. She used my name, which was much bigger than hers, and she’s built on her victory over me and taken it to the next level. But it was the fight I put up that has put Rousey on her pedestal. If I’d have tapped early then she wouldn’t have gotten the publicity she did from our fight. 

Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Ronda. Even if I try to ignore her, at some point during my day someone will mention her. That’s literally every single day. 

If I allow myself to be consumed by her then I’ll live a negative life. That’s why I’m embracing the rivalry now. I refuse to allow hatred to be my fuel. Ambition, goals and positivity are what are driving me. That’s what I’ve done with my time off, changed my mind-set. I’m learning to be better not bitter.