For Miesha Tate, it’s not a difficult choice.
Widely considered one of the best female mixed martial artists of all time, Tate believes the greatest women’s MMA fighter to date is an easy choice – and she isn’t picking herself.
In the main event of UFC 200 in July 2016, then-UFC bantamweight champion Tate faced off against surging Brazilian Amanda Nunes. Midway through the first round, Nunes submitted Tate by rear-naked choke to win the title.
Nunes has not lost a fight since. For three-and-a-half years, she has defended the bantamweight title. She also picked up the women’s 145-pound belt along the way, when she knocked out Cris Cyborg in 51 seconds at UFC 232 in December 2018.
Having shared the cage with Nunes, Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, and numerous others, Tate’s opinion is as educated as one can be. In her eyes, Nunes is the greatest female fighter to ever put on a pair of MMA gloves.
“For me, it’s been Amanda Nunes,” Tate told MMA Junkie. “She’s just on another level. She’s super legitimate. She hits like a ton of bricks. And it’s just incredible what she’s been able to do with the bantamweight division and what she’s done dipping her toes in the featherweight division. Really, the way she took out Cyborg was so mind-blowing. It was very impressive.
“I think for me that would be an easy pick.”
While Nunes has been defending a belt and earning a second, Tate has entered an administrative role with One Championship. In November 2018, Tate was announced as the promotion’s vice president.
Despite seeing her former opponents still thriving in competition, Tate indicated she has no semblance of an urge to get back fighting. Fans shouldn’t expect to see a Tate vs. Nunes rematch any time soon – at least not inside a cage.
“I’m really content doing the executive stuff,” Tate said. “I’d like to get more involved with some form of grappling competition. I can’t say that I have a strong desire to break my nose again, to be honest.”
UFC 245 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In the third fight on the main card, Nunes defends her belt against former UFC women’s featherweight champ Germaine de Randamie. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Who does Miesha Tate think is the female GOAT? 'That would be an easy pick'