In a week that has seen multiple fighters hang up the gloves for good, one MMA luminary says she has no intention of getting back into the cage.
In 2016, former UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate retired from MMA after losing to Raquel Pennington at UFC 205. The retirement came as a bit of a surprise, as at only 30 years old and just eight months removed from winning the belt, Tate was still in the prime of her career. Nevertheless, “Cupcake” walked away from the sport and recently started a family, welcoming a new daughter into her life that she says has supplanted MMA’s place in her heart.
“I’m open ended in every part of my life,” Tate said on MMA Tonight on SiriusXM Rush recently. “There’s never a time where I really think that a door is 100% closed because there was a time where if somebody would have asked me if I want kids, I would have said ‘I don’t think so. I don’t think I want kids.’
“Different times of your life evoke different emotions and if the passion returns and the stars aligned, sure there’s a chance [I’d come back], but when I think about it now, I don’t feel like I’m missing something. [I have something else now], and she’s obviously my number one priority and my number one objective.”
Tate gave birth earlier this month after 67 hours of labor and with a new daughter in tow, Tate is focusing on being a parent. Tate wouldn’t completely rule out an eventual return though, saying that her retirement was a spur of the moment decision based on what her heart was telling her and a return could happen just the same way.
“With everything being considered, I don’t think [coming back] is the route that I’m gonna go,” Tate said. “But life is crazy. I didn’t think that I would be with such a wonderful man now, and a mother, and I didn’t know I was going to retire when I retired. I very much live by the way my heart tells me to go and when I retired I knew that my heart was telling me this was no longer an option for me.”
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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Congrats.
Congratulations @SugaRashadEvans on your much deserved retirement after a Hall Of Fame career! More time at the desk to talk fights brother! Can’t wait for the next one
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) June 27, 2018
Beef.
You know he will bitch out. Buy the tickets, I am fighting somebody!
— Justin Gaethje (@Justin_Gaethje) June 28, 2018
You’re the bitch you’ll fight anyone for anything. Brain dead and broke in 2 years
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) June 28, 2018
4-match
Do it, Martin!
On @arielhelwani’s new @espn show, @JoshLBarnett said he would love to face the world’s strongest man @PudzianOfficial in @KSW_MMA....
— martin lewandowski (@martinksw) June 26, 2018
What does everyone think? pic.twitter.com/Le2X3zP9kN
Head movement!
Definitely doesn’t seem ready to hang them up.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
James Gallagher (7-0) vs. Ricky Bandejas (10-1); Bellator 204, Aug. 17.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
2014: Nate Marquardt submitted James Te Huna with an armbar at UFC Fight Night 43. That same night, Cub Swanson won a unanimous decision over Jeremy Stephens at UFC Fight Night 44.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.
EXIT POLL
Poll
Does Miesha Tate ever fight again?
This poll is closed
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3%
Yes
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80%
No
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16%
This is MMA. Of course she does.
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