“Will Take Out Another GOAT” Miesha Tate says she can end Valentina Shevchenko’s thrilling title run
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Shevchenko has stated she'll decide whether to move up weight classes depending on Tate's performance
Miesha Tate will have a conclusion to her championship dreams this weekend at UFC Long Island. The former Champion wishes to face Valentina Shevchenko and a victory against Lauren Murphy will certainly out her at the top of the list, in a division where the champion is running out of challengers.
Tate, a former champion, lost her belt at 135 to Amanda Nunes shortly before she went on a 5-year-long hiatus from the sport. When she returned in 2020, she hoped to recapture her belt from Amanda before retiring again. Though she had a dominant performance in her return against Marion Reneau, the momentum was derailed after she suffered a split decision loss to Ketlen Vieira.
Following this, she decided to move down a weight class and make her final championship run at 125lbs. This was only compounded by the fact that her friend Julianna Pena was now the champion at 135 after beating Amanda Nunes.
Miesha Tate is eager to face Valentina Shevchenko before she moves up
At the media day for UFC Long Island, Tate would sit down and answer all the queries about her first fight ever at 125 lbs. Elaborating on what led to her decision to move down to flyweight, she said, “I would have loved to have a rematch with Amanda, but I feel like Julianna getting it done the way she did, I got my fulfillment from that,” she continued, “Now, I want to take out the other GOAT.”
Tate who had the satisfaction of watching the woman that beat her all those years ago, gets beat, said it reinvigorated her desire to become a champion and felt her fastest route to the title was at 125 where there is currently a lack of challengers with the champion flirting with the idea of moving up.
“Julianna has the title right now at 135. This sets me up perfectly, and who wouldn’t want to fight Valentina with all that she’s accomplished,” said Tate, expressing her desire and willingness to face off against The Bullet
In fact, Valentina herself has said that she wishes to wait before her move to 135, as she too desires a match against a veteran like Tate. Shortly after her decision to win over Taila Santos, the champion said that her immediate move to 135 will solely depend on the verdict of Tate’s next fight.
“I was very excited to hear her mention my name. Because if the champion is saying it, you know it’s going to have some value in it.” said Tate expressing her surety over receiving a title shot off a victory due the champion having leverage over who she faces. “I want to make that statement, and I want to say she has work to be done in this division, “ She said.
Tate and Murphy were originally scheduled to face off at UFC 276, however, the fight was canceled at the last minute with them being postponed to UFC Long Island this weekend.
Also Read: WATCH: Valentina Shevchenko’s POV from the tunnel to the cage during intense walkout at UFC 275
Also Read: Lauren Murphy release an official statement after pulling out from her fight against Miesha Tate
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Jerin Mathew
(713 Articles Published)