Miesha Tate comes out of retirement: former champ set to face Marion Reneau
Miesha Tate will come out of retirement and face Marion Reneau on UFC’s July 17 event.
The former UFC bantamweight champion confirmed the news to ESPN on Wednesday. Reneau, although, confirmed that it will be the last fight of her MMA career. The promotion has not announced location or headliner for the card, but it is expected to be a UFC Fight Night event.
Tate (18-7 MMA), last competed at UFC 205 against Raquel Pennington when she suffered a unanimous decision loss, that ultimately persuaded “Cupcake” to call it a career. Tate a former 135-pound champion captured the belt against Holly Holm at UFC 196, finishing the fight via rare naked choke. It went on to be a short reign for the MMA pioneer as she would fail to defend her belt at first time of asking against non-other Amanda Nunes at UFC 200. Tate is held in the highest remark as she held give woman’s MMA a bigger stage after her infamous rivalry with Ronda Rousey. Since her retirement in 2016, Tate has served as an executive and ambassador for Singapore-based MMA promotion One Championship.
Miesha Tate proceeded to text ESPN the following:
“My heart is full of passion; the fire has been lit!” “The sport has been calling for me, it’s time I answer.”
Reneau (9-7-1 MMA), meanwhile, is entering the final fight of her UFC deal and is coming off a decision defeat to Macy Chiasson this past Saturday at UFC on ESPN 21. “The Belizean Bruiser” has had a rocky career inside the UFC – showing her potential with notable wins over the likes of Jessica Andrade and Sara McMann. Reneau is currently on a four-fight losing skid over the likes of Cat Zingano, Yana Kunitskaya, Raquel Pennington, and previously mentioned Macy Chiasson. But ultimately Reneau told ESPN the bout with Tate will serve as her retirement bout.
Reneau has also made a comment on the fight:
“I knew that my last fight would be when I was 43 or 44 years old,” Reneau told ESPN. “Granted, I feel amazing. I feel the best I’ve ever felt. But there just comes a time when I feel it is time to move on and in my mind, I always knew I would finish out my contract and that was going to be it.
