At UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs. Barao 2 , Miesha Tate re-established her dominance in the women’s bantamweight division by defeating Jessica Eye . The defeat of “Evil” marks the fourth straight victory for “Cupcake.” This also ranks Tate number one in her division right underneath the champion, Ronda Rousey. Tate now believes she deserves a third shot at Rousey’s title . Not only that, she believes she’s discovered how to finally take down “Rowdy.”
Unfortunately for Miesha Tate, she won’t get the chance to prove her words for now. It was recently announced that Ronda Rousey’s next opponent would be Holly Holm. Though Tate hasn’t said anything on the match-up, her manager did say he is absolutely shocked.
The fight between Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm was announced on Friday , August 21 at 7:49 a.m. EST, as reported by MMA Fighting . Rousey was the one to make it known during an appearance on Good Morning America . Though there are many in the UFC community, especially the Armbar Nation, who are ecstatic to see Rousey add a new “arm trophy” to her collection, some have expressed disdain. This includes Miesha Tate’s manager, Josh Jones.
“I’m absolutely shocked. I found out just like you did. Very disappointed to hear the news.”
What’s more debilitating for Josh Jones is that Miesha Tate was unaware of the announcement when it was made. He also believes Tate would be absolutely shocked, like he was, once she finds out.
“I want to know the reasons behind [the decision]. To not even be given a head’s up is very disappointing. She doesn’t even know yet. She is going to be absolutely shocked.”
As mentioned earlier, Miesha Tate is number one in her division under Ronda Rousey, and she won all her fights after losing to Rousey a second time. Why Holly Holm, a fighter who is currently ranked underneath Bethe Correia, is getting a shot is argued to be perplexing. Now don’t think this is a bash towards “The Preacher’s Daughter,” because her performances have been godly.
According to Bleacher Report , Holm is a former boxing champion and gifted athlete . What is of concern is Holm’s lack of UFC experience. She only has two wins under her belt, and her opponents weren’t in the division’s top 10. Yet, that is the same situation Bethe Correia had before fighting Rousey.
Despite Josh Jones’s rationale, it is official that Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm will headline at UFC 195: Rousey vs. Holm next year, January 2, 2016. As for Miesha Tate, until she is given her third chance, there is one challenging opponent she can fight given the fact she said she is a-okay to battle in a catchweight.
[Image via Atsushi Tomura /Stringer/Getty]