It doesn't sound like that trilogy fight between Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate will be happening any time soon. Or, like, ever.
Rousey said Thursday at UFC 193 media day that she has no sympathy that Tate got passed up for a title shot in favor of Holly Holm, even though Tate has won four in a row. The UFC women's bantamweight champion said if Tate wants to fight for the belt again, she might have to wait until Rousey is gone from the sport.
Tate, meanwhile, has been very vocal about how upset she is that she was told she'd be fighting Rousey after beating Jessica Eye at UFC on FOX 16 in July. Tate has even said she might retire if there is no path to the title for her in the UFC.
Rousey, who meets Holm in the main event of UFC 193 on Saturday night in Melbourne, Australia, is calling BS on that talk.
"I think it's an empty threat, because to be honest I have more miles on me than she does and her best bet really for her career is to wait for me to retire and then her and Holly could probably end up fighting for a title at one point," Rousey said. "I think that would actually be a really good fight. I think that her best shot is to just wait for me to retire. And it's not gonna take that long. I'm the one with all the surgeries and arthritis. I don't know why she's talking about retirement. But I don't know. I'm really not concerned with her at all. I'm concerned with Holly and that's it."
Tate seemed to be a shoo-in for the next title fight against Rousey. She has beaten Liz Carmouche, Rin Nakai, Sara McMann and Eye since falling to "Rowdy" at UFC 168 in December 2013. Tate is the only woman to last past the first round with the most dominant champion in the UFC. UFC president Dana White said multiple times that Tate-Eye was a title eliminator.
Rousey also defeated Tate in Strikeforce to win that promotion's women's bantamweight title in 2012. That's where the feud started and it leaked into The Ultimate Fighter 18 two years ago when the hatred between the two women and their teams was palpable.
"She's already gotten more chances than anybody else," Rousey said. "What are you bitching about? You already got your ass beat twice."
It's obvious Rousey played a part in the decision to fight Holm next. She's the UFC's top draw and its biggest mainstream superstar ever. When she made the announcement that it would be Holm -- and not Tate -- on Good Morning America, it was a shock to most. Tate included. Not that Rousey is going to be shedding any tears for her biggest rival.
"No, I don't feel bad for her at all," Rousey said. "She thought I didn't deserve a title shot when I got one. Who am I to begrudge that to Holly?"
Get the latest gear
