Miesha Tate: 'Maybe now Ronda Rousey will be more humble in her approach'

Miesha Tate knows she may have gone too far with her reaction to Ronda Rousey’s memorable knockout loss to Holly Holm at UFC 193.

Tate (17-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC) is a longtime rival of Rousey (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), having faced and been defeated by “Rowdy” twice in the past. She was just as surprised as anyone when Holm (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) dominated Rousey on Saturday to capture the women’s bantamweight title with the help of a perfect head kick.

“Cupcake” was one of the first to publicly comment on the outcome of the fight. She was hosting a viewing party in Las Vegas and unleashed some harsh comments that were a further blow to a downed Rousey.

A few days later, however, Tate slightly backtracked on her words. She told MMAjunkie Radio she meant most of what was said, but in hindsight wishes she delivered her thoughts in a slightly more graceful fashion.

“I was pumped and super excited and thought, ‘This is definitely a game changer for me.’ Most people know Ronda and I have a very extensive history, and I think my words definitely got the best of me in the heat of the moment,” Tate said. “You’re charged up and there’s so many things that were said and I felt like that should have been my – I wanted to be in there for that fight and it was promised me, so there was part of me that was amped up and chomping at the bit and wanting to be that person in there. Then you say some things.

“I definitely think my words got the best of me, but at the same time, it’s not like there’s been kind words exchanged on her end. It’s usually pretty blunt on her end and definitely been a lot of comments that have been made. … There are some deep-seated roots of resentment with the way I’ve been treated in the situation. It came out and I wish I would have maybe thought a little bit better before I said something like that.”

Part of Tate’s response stemmed from her bitterness toward the UFC, she said. Tate was originally promised a title shot against Rousey before the UFC reneged on the situation and booked Holm for the fight instead.

The fallout from that decision has not been kept private, because Tate has voiced her displeasure with the UFC on multiple occasions and even threatened retirement. Tate said her comments were partially fueled by that frustration, but she stopped short of making a formal apology.

“Not that I’m apologizing for it, but I think I could have had a bit better of an approach,” Tate said. “I admit I was in an emotional state. I was pumped up, excited and a little bit envious that I feel like that could have been my fight. A lot of emotions were going on, so it’s not necessarily an apology, but admitting I didn’t handle it probably as well as I could have.”

One emotion Tate doesn’t need to explain is the shock involved with seeing Holm pull off arguably the greatest upset in UFC history. “The Preacher’s Daughter” picked Rousey apart on the feet before she landed the fight ending head kick to become just the second female to hold the UFC’s 135-pound belt.

Tate wasn’t the only one who pounced on a downed Rousey after UFC 193. Numerous celebrities, from Donald Trump to 50 Cent to Lady GaGa, also chimed in on Rousey’s misfortune, which Tate said was an apt response after the way Rousey was built up to the public.

“She’s always portrayed herself as invincible and everybody bought into that so much that nobody was going to beat her, that she was going to retire undefeated and everything that she’s said,” Tate said. “You can’t take away what she has done – she’s still an incredible athlete, she was still the longest reigning champion. There were things that this girl has done – like or dislike the girl, you can’t take that away from her.

“When you make a comment like, ‘I can beat everyone in my division with one arm tied behind my back,’ I guess you should kind of expect that kind of backlash if you get beaten so brutally like she did by Holly. When you make comments like that, you’re asking for people to say, ‘Ha!’ Are you not?'”

Many expected Rousey to hold the UFC title for as long as she held an interest in being an MMA competitor. Holm changed the narrative on that and brought Rousey back to earth. That opens up a whole new set of opportunity for someone like Tate, who is on a four-fight UFC winning streak, but would be a tough sell for a third bout with Rousey.

UFC President Dana White said after UFC 193 that a rematch between Holm and Rousey is likely on deck. That’s a difficult decision to object to, but Tate said she also feels deserving of a fight with Holm should Rousey remain on the sidelines for an extended period.

“Ronda had made the comments before that she would be gone until about UFC 200. I also know when you get a concussion that severe, you’re on medical suspension for a while,” Tate said. “It’s not to say I don’t think she doesn’t deserve (a rematch), obviously she was the champion for a really long time, if she wants it there’s a really good argument. But on the other side of it, depending on how long she’s out, I think I have a really strong argument as well. Technically that was supposed to be my title fight and I never fought Holly Holm – and styles make matchups.”

Much of the tension-filled relationship between Tate and Rousey has revolved around Rousey holding the advantage of being champion and able to point at Tate’s failures. Rousey rarely slipped up during her nearly three-year title reign, but now that she’s at a low point, Tate said she feels no sympathy.

“I don’t feel sorry for her – I think she kind of got what was coming to her,” Tate said. “This was something that was long overdue. I feel like maybe now she’s going to be more humble in her approach. I would respect her even more as an athlete and as a competitor. I would respect her more if she was a little bit more humble in her approach to all of this. She doesn’t feel sorry me in for my position so no, it is what it is. It’s the fight game and she signed on the dotted line. They both showed up, and Holly was the better fighter.”

For complete coverage of UFC 193, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

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