| Date | March 3, 2012 (1st Fight) December 28, 2013 (2nd Fight) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title(s) on the line | Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Championship (1st Fight) UFC Bantamweight Championship (2nd Fight) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tale of the tape | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey was a series of mixed martial arts bouts booked by Strikeforce and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). In 2011, the fighters began a rivalry via social media and a series of interviews, with Rousey expressing an interest in fighting Tate for Tate's Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Championship. As the feud garnered increased attention from fans and the press, Tate and Rousey were ultimately chosen to headline a Strikeforce show on March 3, 2012. This marked a rare occurrence of women being placed in the main event of a mixed martial arts (MMA) card.[1]
In making the transition to MMA, Rousey, a decorated judoka, employed a combination of judo and jiu-jitsu.[2] Tate, an accomplished wrestler, utilized ground control to set up technical knockouts or submissions.[3] In the pair's first bout, Rousey defeated Tate via armbar submission following a competitive round of grappling. Upon making the transition to the UFC, Rousey and Tate were eventually booked for a rematch in 2013.
The rivalry holds a significant place in MMA history, as it is credited with bringing women's MMA to the sport's premier promotion, the Ultimate Fighting Championship.[4] Though Tate and Rousey maintained an ostensibly heated feud, the fighters often expressed respect for each other as competitors.
From July 2011 to December 2016, all fights for the Strikeforce and UFC bantamweight titles featured Tate, Rousey, or both.[3][5]
- ^ Martin, Damon (February 28, 2012). "Ronda Rousey Has No Other Option but Victory". mmaweekly.com. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
- ^ Sargent, Robert (November 21, 2011). "Women's MMA Report: Olympian Rousey wins quickly, eyes challenges at 135 pounds". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
- ^ a b "Miesha Tate". UFC.com. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
- ^ "'All Access' video: White says Rousey would likely be first female UFC fighter". MMAjunkie.com. August 9, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
- ^ Bohn, Mike (March 7, 2016). "Miesha Tate Is Finally on Top – But Can She Beat Ronda Rousey?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 7, 2016.