The Ultimate Fighting Championship continues to broaden its women’s MMA offerings, announcing yesterday that Liz Carmouche will take on Miesha Tate in the women’s bantamweight division on April 19 in Orlando.
Also announced on the UFC Web site is the huge heavyweight bout between No. 2-ranked Fabricio Werdum and No. 3-ranked Travis Browne, the winner of which is the obvious No. 1 contender to fight UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez (the UFC has not made this stipulation official).
The Liz Carmouche-Miesha Tate fight will mark the first time any of current women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey’s defeated opponents will meet after having suffered defeat at her hands. Tate is a two-time loser, having recently tapped out to Rousey’s signature armbar at UFC 168 at the end of December to go with her other defeat, when she lost the Strikeforce women’s championship to Rousey. Liz Carmouche, on the other hand, joined Rousey in making UFC history as part of the first-ever women’s bout at UFC 157.
Carmouche, at 8-4, is ranked seventh in the bantamweight division. Although Liz showed off an impressive skill set in her loss to the champ, this fight is unlikely to impact the title conversation without an impressive showing. Carmouche is coming off a loss by unanimous decision to Alexis Davis at November’s “Fight For The Troops” event. On the other hand, it’s unlikely MMA fans want to see Rousey-Tate III any time soon, especially considering Tate got that title shot coming off a loss to Cat Zingano; it was Zingano’s knee injury that propelled Miesha back into the title picture.
The outcome of this fight will have major implications for Liz Carmouche’s career; a win over a former champion like Tate will see her star rise but two losses in a row will send her all the way to the back of the line. It’s unlikely Liz will have to worry about losing her contract with UFC, as the women’s division is still filling out, but no one wants to fight feeling like his or her job on the line. With Rousey taking on Sarah McMann at UFC 170 next month (talk about a fighting champion!), expect the winner of the Liz Carmouche-Miesha Tate showdown to take on Davis or Jessica Eye on the way to a title shot?
How do you think Liz Carmouche matches up against Miesha Tate?
Looks like I’m breaking my diet. http://t.co/SE1sZEZqrE
— LIZ CARMOUCHE (@iamgirlrilla) January 14, 2014