Miesha Tate accepts that a third fight against her historic rival, Ronda Rousey, is no longer possible due to Rousey`s retirement. However, she views a potential future bout against two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison as the next best opportunity to challenge herself against a high-level judo practitioner and perhaps gain a form of closure related to her past defeats.
The rivalry between Tate and Rousey was one of MMA`s most intense, with Tate losing both encounters, the last in 2013. Despite Tate later defeating Holly Holm (who famously knocked out Rousey), she never got the chance for revenge against Rousey, leaving that chapter seemingly unfinished.
With Harrison now a member of the UFC roster, Tate sees a renewed chance to face an elite judo specialist. Tate expressed her long-held desire to prove how much her skills have improved specifically against judo stylists since her losses to Rousey. She felt she didn`t fully understand the nuances of fighting that style back then. With a completely different coaching staff and training partners who can effectively simulate a judoka`s movements – something she found difficult to find previously – she feels much better prepared now.
Tate stated she has dedicated significant effort to improving her defense and offense against judo techniques and believes she finally possesses the necessary tools. She indicated she would be eager to fight Harrison, even if the match isn`t for a championship title immediately.
Currently preparing for her upcoming fight against Yana Santos in May, Tate clarified that her interest in fighting Harrison is based purely on competitive challenge and skill testing, lacking the personal animosity that characterized her rivalry with Rousey.
While acknowledging that Harrison is a distinct fighter from Rousey, Tate noted their shared background in elite judo and their tendency to dominate opponents on the ground create strategic similarities that make the matchup appealing from a stylistic perspective.
For Tate, a fight against Harrison represents a significant opportunity to measure her progress against that specific skillset and potentially put the lingering effects of her losses to Rousey behind her.
Describing Harrison as a “revered judoka” with credentials comparable to Rousey`s, Tate admitted that while a win wouldn`t replicate the feeling of avenging her losses to Rousey, it would still be a highly valuable achievement she would cherish.
She shared that a victory over Harrison would bring her pride by validating her claims of improvement and her dedicated work on countering judo, potentially suggesting how she might fare against Rousey if a third fight were ever possible.
Looking ahead, Kayla Harrison is scheduled for a significant bout against Julianna Pena for the UFC title at UFC 316 in June. Tate stated she will be watching this fight closely, partly due to her friendship with Pena, but primarily because she is focused on returning to the title picture herself as soon as possible.
Tate concluded by expressing her excitement for the Harrison vs. Pena fight and hinted that she might challenge the winner, feeling that her career accomplishments have earned her the right to pursue such an opportunity.
Marcus Blakely