Miesha "Cupcake" Tate simply won't go away. She captured a huge majority-decision win over Sara McMann on Saturday night at UFC 183.
UFC News has the official scorecards:
#UFC183 Official Results: @MieshaTate def @Sara_McMann via Majority Decision (29-28, 29-27, 28-28) UFC ® | Ultimat... http://t.co/ADYxauS3VT
— UFC News (@UFCNews) February 1, 2015
Some MMA fans may be tired of her remaining as one of the top contenders to UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey's title, but Tate keeps coming up with big wins.
On Saturday, she got her latest. After being dazed badly in the first round, Tate hung on and survived the first frame. In the second round, she took control after landing a series of straight punches.
The shots hurt McMann, and she immediately went for the takedown...and ran right into Tate's guillotine. There were some anxious moments for McMann, but she showed heart in escaping the finish. The sequence proved to be enough to even the fight at one round apiece.
In the final round, Tate secured a takedown within the first 15 seconds of the frame. She used impressive ground control to keep the world-class wrestler on her back for the entire round. It was a great way to close out the bout and to lock up her third win in a row.
Per MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani, Tate's win may have come at a price:
Tate going to the hospital. Thinks she may have broken/injured something around eye.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 1, 2015
We'll have to wait and see if this injury puts Tate on the shelf for an extended period. If and when she's ready to get back into the Octagon, the challengers are already lining up.
Former Strikeforce foe Sarah Kaufman wasted little time calling out Tate. When both women were in Strikeforce, Kaufmann defeated Tate by unanimous decision to capture that promotion's women's bantamweight title in 2009.
Ok I'm looking to fight winners and @MieshaTate you're now in my crosshairs. No reason not to fight me now! @ufc #thisismytime
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) February 1, 2015
Whether it's Kaufman or a fellow Rousey chaser like Bethe Correia, there should be new interest in seeing Cupcake's next fight. She may never beat Rousey, or even get another shot, but you have to admire her resiliency and persistence.
