LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 20: UFC women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate interacts with media during the UFC 200 press conference at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 20, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Miesha Tate believes she’s next in line for title shot with win over Lauren Murphy: “If not me, then who else?”
Former UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate believes she could earn a flyweight title shot with a win over Lauren Murphy at UFC on ABC 3.
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate believes she’s just one win away from a title opportunity ahead of her flyweight division debut. Tate is set to face Lauren Murphy this weekend at UFC on ABC 3, in a fight that was pushed back after originally scheduled for UFC 276, but was delayed due to Murphy contracting COVID-19.
Now with Miesha Tate set to face off against the former title challenger Murphy, and the flyweight division open for new contenders, the former bantamweight champion believes a win could lead her to opportunity. In an interview with MMA Junkie, Tate voiced confidence in her abilities to defeat Murphy, and how that performance could pave the way to a title fight.
.@MieshaTate thinks a win at #UFCLongIsland on Saturday gets her a shot at Valentina Shevchenko.
"If not me then who else?"@MikeBohn's interview: https://t.co/FjASG8RxIj pic.twitter.com/Td1f6SGVqD
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) July 11, 2022
“Yes, if not me, then who else? If I go out and beat Lauren the way I intend to -I don’t want to jinx myself so I’m not going to say it, but just watch on the 16th, and granted I do what I feel like I’m gonna do, I’m gonna go out there and I’m gonna win, she’s going to be saying my name a lot more often because if not me, who else?” (Quotes via MMA Junkie)
Miesha Tate would continue on to say that she understands where she’s at in her career and with her upcoming opponent being a former title challenger and one of the toughest in the division, it opens the door for her to immediately jump into contention if her divisional debut goes according to plan. Tate also expressed urgency to move up and face champion Valentina Shevchenko, if she is able to defeat Murphy on July 16.
“Beating Lauren Murphy is a great feather in my cap, and yeah, I’m a former world champion, and I’m not here forever. Let’s get this show on the road. I want to fight the best. I want to fight Valentina [Shevchenko]. Lauren is a tough, gritty fighter, she’s ranked inside the Top-5, so it’ll be a great win for me. It’ll put me right in that spot, and Valentina’s done a beautiful job of clearing out everybody else, so the division is really wide open.” (MMA Junkie)
The last time Valentina Shevchenko fought, she defended her title for the seventh consecutive time when she defeated Taila Santos by split decision at UFC 275 last month. With very few new names atop the division to challenge the champion, Miesha Tate could make a statement if she’s able to defeat Lauren Murphy.
