LAS VEGAS -- Miesha Tate's run to the UFC bantamweight title has encapsulated everything Tate has grown to represent as a fighter. Over the course of five consecutive wins, Tate has overcome promotional slights, a nasty broken orbital against Sara McMann, and secured one of the most stunning comebacks in the history of the sport with her fifth-round submission over Holly Holm.
To put it simply, no one can question Tate's heart -- and Tate is confident that very thing is going to be her greatest strength over UFC 200 title challenger Amanda Nunes.
"I just think I have more tenacity," Tate said at Wednesday's UFC press conference. "I have more heart. I have more determination to be here and to stay here than she does. She has a tendency to break in fights, and I have a tendency to break people in fights."
Nunes was a surprising choice to serve as Tate's first title defense, but her credentials within the division speak for themselves. The 28-year-old Brazilian has won five of her six fights since crossing over from the Invicta FC to the UFC. More impressively, she has finished four of those wins via first-round stoppage.
However the only blemish of that run, a 2014 loss to Cat Zingano, saw Nunes fade after dominating Zingano early in the fight, and it will be up to Nunes to prove those problems are behind her against Tate.
"It's not true," Nunes said on Wednesday. "I'm going to show everybody. I'm going to take this belt. Wait. Wait for Saturday and then we'll see if it is true or not."
Tate and Nunes meet on July 9 as one of the three title fights on the historic UFC 200 main card at the brand new T-Mobile Arena. The moment is one that is a long time in the making for Tate, a longtime contender who nearly considered retirement when the UFC reneged on a promise to give her a third crack at dethroning Ronda Rousey's reign.
It is not lost on Tate that both Rousey and Holm are still looming in the distance. Both of those fights would provide a substantial payday for Tate, but Tate knows she must first take care of business against her first challenge as champion.
"I want to beat all the best in the world, but Amanda is the first step in that," Tate said. "The first step in sealing that legacy. So right now my focus is on Saturday, on beating Amanda. I think that's going to solidify my spot as the champion and then we'll go from there."
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