Former UFC women`s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate has not yet made a definitive decision regarding her continued career in the UFC octagon. Her recent outing at UFC Des Moines earlier this month resulted in a unanimous decision loss against Yana Santos.
This fight marked Tate`s return after a break of 17 months, following a submission win over Julia Avila in December 2023. It was during this previous victory that “Cupcake” suffered a significant and painful injury that she had not previously disclosed publicly.
In a video shared on Instagram, Tate revealed the details of the injury. While applying hooks on Avila`s back, one hook was positioned somewhat shallowly. Her aggressive effort to maneuver from back control to a belly-down position caused her to tear two ligaments, which subsequently required reconstructive surgery. Tate described the recovery as the most arduous challenge she has ever faced, even more difficult than recovering after the birth of her two children. She admitted to frequently crying and believing she might never be able to fight again during this period, despite her strong desire to return.
Despite the lengthy layoff due to the injury and the recent loss to Santos, Tate expressed satisfaction with her overall performance, stating she is “happy, even in a loss.”
Tate initially announced her retirement from mixed martial arts at UFC 205 in November 2016, following a clear decision loss to Raquel Pennington. She made her comeback nearly five years later in July 2021. Since her return to active competition, the 38-year-old`s record stands at 2 wins and 3 losses, including a victory over Marion Reneau in her first fight back.
Regarding her plans after the fight with Santos, Tate clarified that she is not making any final decisions at this time. She stated that whether she fights again “remains to be seen” and that she won`t provide a definitive answer yet, as she believes there is “no right or wrong answer” to the question of her future in the sport.
