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 considering drop to flyweight after friend Julianna Pena wins bantamweight title
Miesha Tate may be switching weight classes.
Tate a former champion at bantamweight, ended her lengthy retirement earlier this year and returned to her old division where she beat Marion Reneau. Given her name recognition, Tate remains a top contender despite losing her last fight to Ketlen Vieira. However, after Julianna Pena beat Amanda Nunes to become the new champ at UFC 269, Tate is now considering a move down to flyweight as she is friends with Pena.
“A lot can change between now and then, so I have to win and do my job so I think what really I’ve got to do is win and focus on that,” Tate said to MMAJunkie. “If Julie’s still the champion by the time that I get there, then I think that’s a conversation we have at that time. I’ve probably got to get two wins until I’m looking at a championship fight, at least, so I’ve got to focus on me and I’m going to continue to cheer on Julie and pray that we don’t ever have to fight each other.
“I know that Julianna can make 125 and I can make 125. There’s also those things too. It’s not out of the question for either of us to go hunting Valentina (Shevchenko) at some point,” Tate continued. “There’s lots of dynamics. I know she really wants that fight too so we’d have to see what happens if everything continues to play out in that direction, there’s always that possibility of us going to 125 for either of us too.”
Although Miesha Tate has never made 125lbs, she believes she would be able to do it and has thought about it in the past. However, she doesn’t like the idea of leaving the division on a loss, so perhaps “Cupcake” decides to take one more fight before making the drop down.
“It’s something I’ve definitely thought about, but I definitely don’t want people thinking that I’m running at 135,” Tate said. “I hate the idea of leaving a division on a loss. It really bugs me. Something really bothers me about that, leaving the division on a loss. It’s something I’ve thought about, but at the same time, I feel like I need more time to digest all of that. It’s not out of the question by any means, but it would be a long process to get down to 125. I’ve been pretty vocal that I’m not a fan of big weight cuts, so I would probably have to do some things to change my body to get down to that weight, but it’s not something that’s way out in left field.”
