Las Vegas, NV — Former UFC and Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champ Miesha Tate is looking to get back in the cage this fall. And she’s still chasing her title aspirations, and a fairytale ending to her career.
“I’m hoping to fight in October. That is, I’ve requested that, so we’ll see how it is,” Tate (19-9) told media outlets including Cageside Press ahead of Thursday’s UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Tate saw a former foe in Amanda Nunes wrap up her career recently, and hasn’t given up on a similar finish to her own fighting days. “I’m glad she got her fairytale ending, and I’m still working on mine.”
In fact, with one solid win, Tate believes she can end up back in a wide open title picture at 135 pounds.
“I’m still here, and I just want people to know that I’m still present in the bantamweight division. And I think one good win, that I can maybe at least drop my name in the hat as a contender,” said Tate. “My last two fights were a really dominant win, and a close loss to a top-five ranked Ketlen Vieira. And so why not? Another good win, a top 10 girl, and okay, maybe I can at least be part of the conversation.”
Tate of course is discounting her loss to Lauren Murphy last year, which came in the flyweight division. It appears her focus is back on bantamweight — and “Cupcake” would very much like to fight at home in Washington, perhaps in Seattle, next.
“They came there one time, and it was in the summer, and I knew that was going to be the biggest mistake because nobody in Washington state wants to be indoors on a nice summer day,” noted Tate. “Because we barely get any of that, it’s all rain.”
Tate also addressed Julianna Pena’s ongoing rivalry with the now-retired Amanda Nunes on Thursday. Tate knows Pena well, as they both reside in the Pacific North West — beyond that, Tate was a coach on The Ultimate Fighter 18 a decade ago, with Pena one of her fighters.
“I think she’s speaking from the frustration in her. And I know that she can be a very polarizing character, and some people love her, some people hate her, but at least you care— and I think that’s what she’s trying to [do], make a difference, she’s trying to make you care,” Tate said of “The Venezuelan Vixen” and her antics.
Pena has continued to call out Nunes, who retired at UFC 289 last month, for a third title fight. The TUF 18 winner was originally supposed to face Nunes atop the Vancouver card, until a rib injury forced her from the rubber match of the pair’s trilogy.
“She’s trying to get in Amanda’s ear and get that fight. The balls, the cahones on Julianna Pena are immeasurable. She’s just so bold. So she’s going to try to stir the pot and see if she can get any little glimmer of hope. And I don’t think you can blame her. Not only the legacy, but the money too. That’s a huge money fight. She broke her rib, it just sucks. Put yourself in her shoes, you’d be pissed too.”
