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Ronda Rousey Vs. Holly Holm Is Inevitable, But Where Does That Leave Miesha Tate?

By Toni Matthews
Published on: 05:16 PST, Sep 25, 2016

Ronda Rousey is going to have to answer the Holly Holm question at some point. It doesn’t matter how far the UFC sweeps Holm under the rug. Holly currently stands as the only woman in the UFC to beat Ronda.

And it wasn’t a matter of losing by decision. Holly humiliated Ronda. She pounded her. Dominated her. Practically made Ronda Rousey look like an amateur. Those images and that outcome won’t go away — even if UFC President Dana White believes everyone is suddenly interested in Ronda Rousey fighting Cris Justino.

https://youtu.be/zgYWjIlqE-o

As the Inquisitr previously reported, a poll demonstrated that interest in Ronda vs. Cris has waned over the past few years. For some reason, White is already looking ahead to that fight as if Ronda Rousey is absolutely going to beat Amanda Nunes. Hubris aside, it’s easy to be skeptical about the sincerity of making Rousey vs. Justino happen should Ronda win her title back.

What is said and what actually happens are two entirely different things in the UFC, particularly when it comes to Ronda Rousey’s career. Aside from Justino, two other women know this very well: Miesha Tate and Holly Holm.

In the case of Miesha Tate, she was forced into the “second fiddle” role pretty early in her UFC career. After both women had led opposing teams on a season of The Ultimate Fighter, their emotional rivalry came to a head at UFC 168.

That event began a lengthy winning streak by Ronda Rousey, and Miesha Tate’s rivalry was mostly one-sided from that point on. Dana White, as reported by FOX Sports, saw no reason to revisit the issue. This sentiment was made apparent when, despite being the No. 1 contender, Miesha Tate was infamously passed over for Holly Holm.

I don’t want to say this move blew up in the faces of both Dana White and Ronda Rousey, but it blew up in the faces of Dana White and Ronda Rousey.

From that moment on, the women’s bantamweight division was in an uproar. Holly Holm was supposed to wait until Ronda Rousey was well enough to fight again. As we now know, that would have been more than a year. Holm had no interest in getting ring rust, so she pushed for a fight.

Unlike Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm opted for the No. 1 contender — Miesha Tate. Luckily for Tate, Holm isn’t Rousey. It’s easy to argue that Miesha still would be waiting for her chance if Ronda were the current champion.

[Image by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images]

Holly Holm was submitted by Miesha Tate at UFC 196 and resentment felt toward Holm for her defeat of a prized cash cow was immediately put on display. Holly Holm is currently coping with back to back losses. Unfortunately, that makes a second bid for the title very difficult.

Another recent champion who may be joining her in the shadows is Miesha Tate. One could call it karma. Tate talked up being the No 1. contender and how she was passed over for Holm. Holly won the belt and immediately granted Tate the opportunity that she deserved.

Miesha Tate failed to grant Holly Holm the same courtesy. The New York Post wrote that Miesha immediately opted for an opponent who seemed the “weaker option.” At the same time, Tate was already looking forward to a possible rematch against Ronda Rousey.

The following is a quote from the New York Post.

“They tell me Tate chose [Nunes],” Fresquez told the Albuquerque Journal, perhaps trying to save face for his suddenly afterthought fighter. “Holly was offered to her and she chose Nunes. She chose to take a weaker opponent.

[Now] Holm lacks the leverage she had as champion and will have to wait in line behind Nunes and likely Rousey.

Miesha Tate lost the belt herself and is now at the back of the line. Here’s the thing: By losing the title, Tate may have gifted Holm a second chance at Rousey — regardless of whether a belt is on the line.

Here’s why.

[Image by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images]

Amanda Nunes is not to be trifled with. One doesn’t just smash Miesha Tate’s face in a matter of seconds. Amanda Nunes stands the strongest chance of staging a successful title defense against any opponent, including Ronda Rousey.

The mistake that Dana and possibly Ronda are making is one that Miesha made herself upon accepting the fight: Underestimating Amanda. It’s also important to remember that Ronda is recovering psychologically from not only losing, but losing badly.

The mystique is gone, as is the perception of invulnerability. Amanda Nunes has no reason to fear Ronda Rousey — especially as the defending champion. We could see Ronda lose at UFC 207. We could see Nunes begin her own successful winning streak as champion.

So, what becomes of Ronda Rousey in that situation?

Well, the most logical angle is where Ronda “faces her demons.” That “demon” would be Holly Holm. People want to know if Ronda’s loss was a fluke (it wasn’t). People want to know if Holm represents a mental block that Rousey can’t get past. That fight would be huge.

A Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate rematch? Not so much. It’s a situation where it doesn’t have to be for a title. Who knows? That bout could even inspire Ronda to give Cyborg a shot.

That’s not including the crazy combination of fights that could emerge what would be an incredibly wide-open women’s bantamweight division. And therein lies the problem: Miesha Tate doesn’t bring much drama to the table at this point.

It’s easy to argue that people are even less enthusiastic about Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate than they are Ronda Rousey vs. Cris Justino. Justino and Rousey have never fought, and Justino is only in the UFC because of the “dangled carrot” that is a fight against Rousey.

Bleacher Report’s Mike Chiappetta wrote the following.

“When the fighter’s weight cut is more dramatic than the fight, there is a problem. Why are we torturing an athlete for no reason?”

The will-she-or-won’t-she situation with Justino and settling of scores with Holly Holm represent strong possibilities. Tate’s only hope at this point is Amanda Nunes. If Amanda beats Rousey, she might be open to giving Miesha another shot. Miesha Tate is going to have to sell herself as an interesting opponent that can bring drama and excitement.

Otherwise, she may find herself waiting indefinitely for another title fight.

Who do you think has a better chance of fighting Ronda Rousey in the future: Holly Holm or Miesha Tate? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

[Featured Image by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images]

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