Strikeforce’s upcoming clash for the women’s 135 pound title pits champion Miesha Tate against upstart challenger Ronda Rousey. It is arguably the most-hyped women’s fight since Gina Carano met “Cyborg” Santos. With both Carano and Santos out of the picture, this fight is also for the top spot in all of women’s mixed martial arts.
Somewhat understandably yet disappointingly, a lot of the hype has focused on the women’s looks. Joe Rogan recently said it was going to be the “hottest championship fight ever”. But heading into Saturday’s fight, Tate seems philisophical about being compared in looks as well as martial arts skills.
I think it should be more about the fight, because that’s what we’re doing. You know, we’re not coming there to look like super models, we’re coming there to beat each other up. And you know that’s what’s exciting to me about it. Some people I think are kind of may be initially drawn because of the looks or whatnot. You know, that’s kind of an interesting part of it, is that we are both feminine outside the cage and carry ourselves as, you know, girly girls and whatnot. But we can get in there and throw it down and so, I think it makes for an interesting contrast.
Rousey has been very verbal heading into the clash with Tate, saying as many outlandish things to as many media outlets as possible in order to try and hype up the fight as a true mixed martial arts event. While Rousey alternately berates Tate and then says, as Michael Corelone would “it’s strictly business”; Tate seems to be keeping a mental note of Rousey’s statements and allowing that to motivate her.
Ronda’s been incredibly disrespectful on a number of occasions. And you know, she says for her, supposedly, it’s not personal and whatnot. But, I mean, there’s things that when you say some things that make it personal. And so, for me she’s really kind of pissed me off. You know she just runs her mouth more than I feel that she should.
The fact that she has to fight Rousey at all seems to bother Tate, who name checks both Sarah Kaufman and Alexis Davis as more worthy of a title shot. While it’s clear Tate respects Rousey’s judo skills, the champion seems intent on testing Rousey in all aspects of MMA.
She’s not a fighter. You know, I haven’t seen Ronda fight anyone yet. She’s 4-0 as a professional and she’s gone out there and played judo with these girls that don’t have any judo or wrestling background…so that’s a huge key element that’s going to be a game changer in this fight, I feel, because I do have a wrestling background. I have a sense of the pushing and the pulling of the feet and how that can work. So basically, she goes out there and she plays Judo with these girls. I mean, she doesn’t throw punches, she doesn’t get punched and she doesn’t fight she just, you know, looks for the submission almost immediately as if she’s just desperate she doesn’t want to be exposed.
The stage is set for Saturday night with a brash, cocky challenger taking on a focused, determined champion. Whatever the result, if the fight lives up to the hype then MMA fans will be asking “Gina who”?
The full MMASucka Radio interview with Miesha Tate can be found here.
Follow Miesha on twitter: @MieshaTate
Related article: Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey’s Greatest Hits
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