Miesha Tate UFC World Champion
For the second time in five years Miesha Tate is the best women’s batamweight fighter in the world. On March 5 Miesha Tate became UFC Champion by choking Holly Holm unconscious at UFC 196. Four years and seven months earlier Tate submitted Maloes Coenen to win the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight title.
Video from Strikeforce adam2009video
At UFC 196 Miesha dominated Holly Holm for the entire second round and almost finished her then. All three judges scored that round 10-8 for Tate. To her credit Holly came back in round 3 and 4, sticking and moving to score enough points to take those rounds. Holm never hurt Tate but after winning rounds 1, 3 and 4 Holly was ahead going into the fifth and final round. Had Miesha won round 5 the fight would have ended in a draw with Holly retaining her title.
Miesha Tate was relentless in round 5 even as Holly Holm threw strong lefts and vicious leg kicks. With about two minutes remaining Tate grabbed Holm for a takedown then Holly stood against the cage to shake her off. With Tate on her back securing a choke Holly crashed to the mat but Miesha choked even harder. Seconds later Holly Holm was unconscious and Miesha Tate was the new UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion.
What’s it like to be the new UFC Champion?