Miesha Tate first worked her way up the regional ranks when women’s MMA was far from a mainstream attraction.
After rising to the top of the Strikeforce bantamweight division, Tate claimed gold. She was involved in one of the biggest televised fights when she defended her title against Ronda Rousey.
From there, Tate joined Rousey and others in the UFC and helped usher in the new generation of the sport. She once again became a champion, submitting Holly Holm in an epic battle for the belt.
But following back-to-back tough losses to Amanda Nunes for the title and more recently at UFC 205 vs. Raquel Pennington, Tate decided enough is enough. She announced her retirement inside the Octagon at Madison Square Garden following the recent loss.
“I will love this sport forever,” Tate said. “It just isn’t my time anymore. I’ve taken a lot of punishment. I still love this sport, but it is time for me.”
