Back in 2016, there was shock and a fair share of disappointment when it was revealed that Miesha Tate would be retiring from MMA action. The decision came just after she had lost by decision against Raquel Pennington, which was also the same year that she had won and then subsequently lost the Women’s Bantamweight title.
The most surprising factor about the announcement was that Tate was at the very peak of her powers despite the recent defeats, and aged just 30, she still had so much to give to the sport. However, after nearly five years away, it has now been officially announced that one of MMA’s all-time great pioneers will be back in the octagon later in the year.
UFC News: Huge Announcement To Lift Bantamweight Division
It was announced earlier this week that Tate’s return would come on the UFC Fight Night 192 card later in the year. The event is scheduled to take place on the 17th July, with a venue yet to be decided. Tate has been busy with her time away from the octagon, as she became the vice president at ONE Championship, and has also given birth to two children.
However, she has made it very clear that she has one target in mind when she returns to the octagon, and that is to regain her bantamweight title. She has previously held the title on occasion, as she returned to the octagon after less than a year away in March 2016 to beat Holly Holm by submission in the fifth round to win the championship. Repeating that feat would certainly be one of the all-time great stories in UFC.
UFC News: Tate’s Opponent For Return Revealed
As well as the date of Tate’s return, it was also announced which star she would be coming up against on her return. It was revealed that Marion Reneau would be her opponent at Fight Night. Reneau is currently ranked at 12th in the bantamweight rankings, but a win for the 43-year-old would certainly be the biggest victory of her career to date.
The American has fought on 17 previous occasions, and has won nine times and has lost on seven occasions. She will come into the huge fight in July having lost four consecutive times in the octagon, with her most recent defeat coming against Macy Chiasson in March. However, she will still be a difficult opponent to beat, as she has never been beaten inside the distance.
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