Miesha Tate’s Regret Over Missing Holly Holm Rematch
Despite her victory in their initial UFC encounter, Miesha Tate expresses disappointment over not being able to have a rematch with Holly Holm.
While some may not understand the desire to fight the same opponent again after a win, especially when there’s no title or ranking at stake, for Tate, facing Holm again holds personal significance. She laments the missed opportunity as Holm is no longer in the UFC.
“I’m bummed I missed the window with a Holly rematch,” Tate shared on MMA Junkie Radio.
“It’s frustrating that people perceive my victory as a fluke. I don’t see it that way. I believe I displayed dominance in the fight, especially in the second round where I had a clear advantage. If I had won the fifth round, it would have been a draw. I feel like I needed to finish the fight for legacy purposes, but it irks me that it’s often viewed as luck,” she added.
Tate and Holm clashed at UFC 196 in 2016, with Tate clinching the victory in a dramatic turnaround in the fifth round, securing the UFC women’s bantamweight title with a rear-naked choke.
Recognized with the Comeback of the Year award, Tate feels that the MMA community has a distorted memory of her fight with Holm, a narrative she hoped to correct in a potential rematch.
“The award felt odd to accept because I never seemed defeated in that fight. I wanted the rematch to prove my dominance and settle any doubts,” Tate explained.
Tate is set to return to the octagon on May 3 at UFC on ESPN 67, where she will face off against veteran Yana Santos.