A comeback at featherweight? Ex-UFC bantamweight champ Miesha Tate says no

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate has no desire to stage a comeback in the new featherweight division.

“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 (18-7 MMA, 5-4 UFC) today told MMAjunkie Radio.

Tate retired in the cage after a one-sided loss at UFC 205 to Raquel Pennington, which followed the loss of her title in another blowout against current champ Amanda Nunes at UFC 200.

In subsequent interviews, Tate said she had tired of getting punched in the face for a living and wanted to do something else with her life. So far, that’s been working out well for her.

Tate, who briefly held the bantamweight title after choking out Holly Holm (10-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) at UFC 196, hasn’t changed her mind about competing despite Holm’s second crack at gold at Saturday’s UFC 208 for the inaugural women’s featherweight title.

And of course, the thought of getting punched by Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino (17-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), the contender-apparent to the UFC women’s featherweight title, can’t be a happy one.

“I’m really happy in the retirement, honestly,” she said. “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.”

Tate still enjoys grappling and recently beat UFC vet Jessica Eye at Submission Underground 2. She also recently appeared on FS1 as a commentator, weighing in on her longtime rival Ronda Rousey’s comeback at UFC 207.

No shortage of opportunity appears to be available for Tate behind the scenes. While she clarified that nothing is impossible as far as a comeback, the idea is not anywhere near the forefront of her mind.

For more on UFC 208, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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