This weekend, UFC history will be made when Holly Holm and Germaine de Randamie fight for the inaugural UFC women’s featherweight championship, officially opening up the first new weight class in the UFC since they added the strawweight division in 2014. But just because there are more championship opportunities available, don’t think that will lure former champion Miesha Tate out of retirement.
While speaking with MMA Junkie Radio on SiriusXM Rush on Tuesday, Tate explained that that she is happily retired and has no intention of returning.
“At this point, it’s not even on the radar, so I can’t say that will probably happen, because I don’t think that it will.”
Tate retired in the cage at UFC 205 after suffering a deflating loss to Raquel Pennington, her second in a row after dropping the title to Amanda Nunes at UFC 200. It was the cap to a strange year for Tate who saw her start out 2016 by winning the title at UFC 196 from one of the women who will be fighting for the 145-pound belt in Holm.
Should Holm win on Saturday, and if Tate was inclined to come back, it could set up a major rematch for the UFC. But despite the opportunity to potentially become a two-weight world champion, Tate is adamant that the desire to fight again isn’t there.
“I’m really happy in the retirement, honestly. I’ve just been really enjoying myself and figuring out a little bit more about who I am beyond Miesha the fighter. It’s been a very interesting process, so I’m really enjoying that. I don’t have any plans to come back, or even any desire to.
“So unless that drastically changes, I don’t see myself going back in there. It’s an all-or-none sport. It’s got to be 110 percent, or not at all for me. So unless something makes me want to get back in there like a crazy person, I won’t be.”
And that goes for all weight classes. For a long time, Tate was considered possibly the best women’s flyweight in the world but neither Strikeforce nor the UFC had that division for her. Lately though, there have been rumors that the UFC is looking to add a women’s 125-pound division. But that still isn’t enough to lure Tate back into the cage. The former champion says that even if they did open up a strawweight division, she would definitely not want to try and make the weight and at this point, the same goes for 135 pounds too.
“Well, no. Because I don’t want to cut that much weight and I don’t want to diet that much anymore. I honestly would be more inclined to come back at 145 [pounds] even though I’d be really small for that division, but I’m just over the whole weight cutting thing. I don’t enjoy it and yeah, I used to be smaller and then because I got older I really filled out and got more muscle and all that stuff...
“I just don’t want to cut weight anymore. At all. I just want to be myself. Even if I’m only five pounds over, I don’t really care at 145. I used to be small for 135, I wouldn’t mind being small for 145 if that was ever gonna come to fruition.”
So while Tate maintains that “nothing’s impossible,” it seems like Tate is definitely gone for good.
MUST-READ STORIES
Cleared. Daniel Omielanczuk has been cleared of all wrong doing in his doping case.
Two belts. David Branch has relinquished both of his WSOF titles and is officially a free agent.
Bones. Anthony Johnson believes Jon Jones should get the next title shot.
Silly. Frankie Edgar doesn’t understand the UFC’s “silly” influx of interim title fights.
MEDIA STEW
Full episode of Nick and Snoop.
Free fight.
Embedded 1.
Apparently this is Renan Barao from the weekend, getting submitted by Leozada Noguiera at an ADCC trial in Brazil.
Watch Dennis Bermudez in a motion capture suit.
Chael.
Zahabi answering training questions which is worth a look.
LISTEN UP
Anik and Flo.
Show the Art.
Skinny G.
TWEETS
Former champ.
Great to have former UFC champ @NateDiaz209 train at our boxing club in SF. Keep up the good work pic.twitter.com/7Wjl4aVIke
— Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) February 6, 2017
So apparently this happened.
If you missed it, WSOF website got hacked last night by a Kurdish hacker group who posted an anti-Isis message on the homepage. https://t.co/NpyKiGSB8F
— Mike Russell (@MIKERUSSELLMMA) February 6, 2017
Coming soon.
Sounds like I may have fight news soon... Let's go. #TrustTheProcess
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) February 7, 2017
Is it just a coincidence that they both have fight announcements soon?!?!
That stupid face you make when you have a fight announcement soon! Also when your dog is wearing a snowsuit. pic.twitter.com/xgCWkQMuZu
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) February 6, 2017
Safe driver discount.
On our road trip home , pulled over for @JamesVickMMA to do a quick interview with @arielhelwani #UFC #mma pic.twitter.com/M5q5YkO4ax
— Adah Ceno (@adahesic_ada) February 6, 2017
Din Thomas.
Conor enjoys his money.
Business and pleasure pic.twitter.com/bpPefLcwuv
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 7, 2017
Stipe.
I'm famous?
Posted by Stipe Miocic on 6hb Februari 2017
Friends.
@PlatinumPlus7 @EliasTheodorou after this next win you might just top 15 spot too
— Sam Alvey (@smilensam) February 6, 2017
You and me against the world (or at least the MW division), buddy! #ufchalifax #themaneevent https://t.co/eD2LPVtdTf
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) February 6, 2017
Squad goals.
If you don’t think it’s a least a little bit funny that Bisping is “the Heavy Hitter” you’re taking things way too seriously.
Heavy hitter @bisping joins the xXx crew. See him on the big screen now. #ReturnOfXanderCage pic.twitter.com/OyLNUjJuVM
— Paramount Pictures (@ParamountUK) February 5, 2017
Icon.
My boy @kyoji1012 killing it on the front cover pic.twitter.com/Q5E5uc7rMD
— Robert Whiteford (@Flyinjudoka) February 6, 2017
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ayaka Hamasaki (14-1) vs. Livia Renata Souza (9-1); Invicta 22, March 25.
Stipe Miocic (16-2) vs. Junior dos Santos (18-4); UFC 211, May 13.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
1997: Mark Coleman became the first UFC heavyweight champion when he submitted Dan Severn with a neck crank at UFC 12: Judgement Day. This event also marked the beginning of weight classes in the UFC, heavyweights (200+ pounds) and lightweights (199 pounds and under). Jerry Bohlander won the lightweight tournament that evening and Vitor Belfort, who made his UFC debut that evening, won the heavyweight tournament.
2013: Alexander Shlemenko won the vacant Bellator middleweight title by stopping Maiquel Falcao with punches at Bellator 88.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Lost in the shuffle from this weekend, but if TKZ can come back after 3.5 years and look like that, dare we hope that somehow TJ Grant makes an MMA return ever? Still one of the oddest stories in MMA to me.
Take it easy and see y’all tomorrow.
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