Miesha Tate on Holly Holm Title Bout: ‘I’ve Got a Lot of Things Going for Me in This Fight'
Former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate hopes to capture the UFC women’s bantamweight championship when she faces titleholder Holly Holm in the UFC 196: McGregor vs. Diaz co-main event on Saturday.
Tate was promised a title shot following her UFC on Fox 16 unanimous decision win over Jessica Eye. The Las Vegas-based fight promotion opted for Holm to face the-champion Ronda Rousey instead. After being passed over and disappointed, Tate briefly considered retirement.
“I was like, if I’m not going to get a title shot, if I can’t fight for the title, if I can’t have the opportunity of making my dream come true, what am I doing this for? What else is there? I don’t just want to fight to fight. I want to be the best in the world, and I want to prove that,” she said earlier this week.
Tate plans to take the fight to Holm and believes that her style can disrupt the champion’s rhythm.
“I think Holly likes to have a clean fight and keep people at that perfect range. I think when a fighter can get gritty and mix things up, I think that can change the dynamic of the fight for her very, very, very well,” she said.
Through the years, Tate has worked hard to improve her striking. She dropped Eye in her last outing and questions the durability of Holm’s chin.
“Also, I think that her chin may be suspect,” she said. “I’ve got a lot of things going for me in this fight.”
