Holly Holm Defeated By Miesha Tate In UFC 196 Bantamweight Championship

Holly Holm lost her first title defense to veteran MMA fighter Miesha Tate Saturday night in Las Vegas. The match up between Holm and Tate was the co-main event for the fight card, and while Tate brought in the mixed martial arts experience, Holm had hoped the boxing and kicks that helped her defeat the undefeated Ronda Rousey last November for the belt would come through for her again. It didn’t.

The match between Holm and Tate was the longest women’s bantamweight fight in UFC history given that the previous champion to Holm, Ronda Rousey, often finished opponents within the first round. Holm and Tate squared off tentatively in the first round with Holm being the aggressor and landing more punches according to the Los Angeles Times. Miesha nearly got the finish in the second round when she was able to take Holly’s back and attempt a choke, but Holm was able to outlast Tate to make it to the third and fourth rounds where Holly would again dominate with her professional boxing skills.

As Tate and Holm entered the fifth round, many predicted Miesha would need to do something major to pull of the victory with several experts predicting Holly had won three of the four initial rounds should it come down to the judges’ decision. Tate was finally able to break through Holm’s defense and get a takedown, and with about a minute and a half to go, took Holm’s back to secure a fierce rear naked choke. Though ABC News initially reported that Holly tapped out, their live coverage later went on to indicate that Holm was indeed unconscious after the replay showed Holly’s attempt to tap and her body go limp.

Holly Holm is a former welterweight boxing champion who segued into mixed martial arts in 2011. Though the underdog in November against then UFC bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey, Holm shocked the world when she not only beat Rousey, but knocked her out in the second round. MMA fans were hoping for a Holly Holm versus Ronda Rousey rematch as soon as possible, but the injuries Rousey suffered in the fight against Holm, and Ronda’s growing list of film obligations, meant the two wouldn’t be able to fight again until November.

Holly, not wanting to let any dust collect on her brand new belt, agreed to fight veteran Miesha Tate in the meantime with the hope of proving Holm was more than just a one hit wonder. Miesha Tate had expressed dismay when the UFC had announced that Holly Holm would be getting the opportunity to take on Ronda Rousey for the belt. Despite having lost twice to Ronda Rousey in the past, Tate had been the only competitor until Holm to survive past the first round with Rousey.

While naturally Holly Holm had discussed the possibility of losing her belt as a concern, earlier this week Holly had stated that she was more upset with the fact that her win over Ronda Rousey would be seen as a fluke and tarnish her legitimacy as a UFC fighter.

“There’s a lot more pressure on this that I put on myself but that’s what I’m here for,” Holly Holm told Fox Sports.

Now that Holly Holm is no longer the UFC bantamweight champion, however, the pressure may be more on UFC President Dana White. Ronda Rousey has stated that she wants both the opportunity to win back the title, as well as avenge her loss to Holly Holm. With Tate now wearing the belt, White will need to decide if viewers want to see Ronda fight Holly for vengeance, or take on Miesha for a third time to try and regain the belt.

Or, given the fact that Holly Holm was just a minute and a half away from retaining the championship, perhaps Dana White will encourage Ronda Rousey to sign up to star in yet another movie while he orchestrates a Tate versus Holm rematch first.

[Holly Holm/Miesha Tate UFC 196 cover image via Eric Jamison/AP.]