Issue 161

December 2017

Cat Zingano shows UFC fans what they were missing

"Never.” That was Dana White’s curt response in January 2011 when asked if women would fight in the UFC. Two years later, he welcomed the 135lb division. His U-turn paid dividends quickly. Ronda Rousey was an instant hit and the second-ever female bout was a Fight of the Night bonus winner, as Cat Zingano and Miesha Tate went to war to determine who would be next to challenge ‘Rowdy’.

Tate had the better of the opening minutes but momentum shifted towards the end of the second round, when Zingano reversed from mount and started some heavy fire.

That continued into the final round as ‘Alpha’ got the takedown and continued to strike. Tate tried to escape, but the end was nigh...

Permission to turn it on

“I felt like she had given everything she had,” Zingano told FO. “She’d thrown armbars at me, she threw her hardest punches, her hardest kicks, she got takedowns and I feel like she couldn’t put me away. It was almost like I got permission to turn it on…. Going into the third-round, I was done losing. I was done having anybody take away from me what I worked so hard for.”

Step 1

Tate goes after the single-leg, but Zingano sprawls. As they rise, 'Alpha' attacks with some heavy knees.

Step 2

Zingano continues to fire away with knees and backs Tate up against the face. She follows up with a right elbow to close the show.