Miesha Tate vs Ronda Rousey Next After Holly Holm Fight, Dana White Hints
Miesha Tate threw the UFC Women’s division in total disarray following a submission win over Holly Holm at UFC 196. Her first title-defense has yet to be made, but it boils down to either an immediate rematch with the Preacher’s Daughter or a third showdown with Ronda Rousey.
UFC 196 delivered two surprising co-main event results, which caught many by surprise.
A Day of Upsets
By now, everyone has probably heard that Conor McGregor lost to Nate Diaz in the second round, which was also his first loss in the UFC. But even before that, people who were following UFC 196 were getting over a previous result that saw Holm fall to Tate.
Tate used a choke on the “Preacher’s Daughter,” scoring the first upset of the evening and becoming the new UFC women's bantamweight champion.
Tate’s Gamble Pays Off
It was a come-from-behind set, with a looming draw. Based on the score cards, Tate needed a takedown if she wanted to snag the title from Holm.
She did just that when “Cupcake” was able to apply a rear naked choke and never let go. That did the trick and Holm lost consciousness.
Rematch or Rousey?
With the triumph, it was too early to ask Tate who she intended to face next. Obviously still caught up in the moment, there were only two names that many wanted to hear -- Holm or Rousey.
Tate will leave the selection process to the hands of UFC president Dana White. But this early, it seems pretty clear that White is leaning on re-inserting Rousey back in the fold with the assumption that she is ready.
“I think that Ronda now will fight Miesha Tate for the title,” White was quoted told ESPN's “SportsCenter” following UFC 196. “That’s what’s going to happen. That’s what I said before this fight even happened.”
Rowdy and Ready or not?
Assuming White’s plans materialize, is the former UFC champion-slash-actress ready to return?
Rousey didn’t even bother to watch UFC 196 and was instead at a pro-wrestling event. She only learned of the results with White texting her and updating her on the results.
During the exchange, here was one interesting bit: “Well, it looks like I got to get back to work,” said White on Rousey’s reply.
Even White was clueless on what that statement meant since she could have referred to acting or hitting the gym once again.
Will Holm Follow Jose Aldo Argument?
If White does make Rousey the immediate challenger to Tate’s title, it should be interesting if Holm and company would object and use the same case that Jose Aldo put on the table pertaining to McGregor.
As far as the UFC featherweight division is concerned, Frankie Edgar was rumored to take first crack at the Irishman’s title until Aldo bemoaned the move, saying that it should be him for a rematch.
Holm has not yet mentioned anything about a possible rematch with Tate, though it will not be surprising if she ends up asking for one being the former champion.
If so, will White budge in the same way he did from Aldo?
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