Miesha Tate celebrates after submitting Holly Holm with a rear-naked choke during their title fight at UFC 196 in Las Vegas. AP
It will be a trilogy between Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate.
Following the stunning turn of events at UFC 196, UFC president Dana White announced on ESPN that Tate, the new UFC women’s bantamweight champion, will have her first title defense against none other than former champion Rousey.
“I think that Ronda now will fight Miesha Tate for the title,” said White.
“That’s what’s going to happen,” White said. “That’s what I said before this fight even happened. Whoever wins tonight will fight Ronda for the title.”
Tate shocked the world when she caught Holly Holm with a rear-naked choke in the fifth round of the co-main event at UFC 196.
Though plans are already in place, White did not divulge when and where the third fight between Tate and Rousey is going to be.
“Ronda Rousey has worked very hard for three and a half years for this company,” he said. “She did everything that was asked, and went above and beyond the call of duty. If she wants to stay out until October, I will let her do that.”
Rousey, who hasn’t fought since getting knocked out by Holm at UFC 193 in November, beat Tate twice in their previous meetings in 2012 and 2013 — both via an arm bar submission.