According to Dana White, Miesha Tate’s first title defense will come against a familiar foe: former champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey. The pair have squared off twice before, with Rousey handily winning both times. A lot has changed since then, but not in the sportsbook. As with their previous encounters, Tate will enter the match a significant underdog.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Miesha Tate +350
Ronda Rousey -500
Please note, the odds at BookMaker are updated daily. The lines listed here may have changed since this article was posted.
ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS
Holly Holm, Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate provide the perfect example of why MMA math doesn’t work. Holm beat Rousey who beat Tate who beat Holm. Styles make fights, and there’s a reason why Tate is such a big underdog even though she beat the girl who worked over Rousey.
Tate’s strength is her wrestling, but rolling on the mat is the last thing you want to do with a savage submission artist like Rousey. And if you take away her grappling, Tate is an average striker at best. On the feet, she is certainly not skilled or refined enough to follow the same blueprint that Holly did.
However, what Holly did was shatter Rousey’s invincible aura. And she did it with a measured game plan and a disciplined approach. Those are two aspects that any fighter can apply in any measure. Tate is the only fighter to ever see a third round with Ronda, so seeing her wilt under Holm’s precision has to be heartening.
Plus, we have no idea how hard Rousey has been training and shoring up the holes in her game. She’s been busy making movies in Hollywood, and we can at least surmise that a full filming schedule leaves less time in the gym. And now that every one of her future opponents will try and drag her into deep water, it is imperative for her to make sure she’ll be able to tread water late in a five-round fight.
THE EARLY PLAYS
We’ve sesen a crazy amount of upsets lately, and this could very likely be another one. Tate is one of the most resilient fighters on the entire roster, and Holm exposed Ronda in ways that helps the rest of the division. A small bet on Tate right now seems like a good value.
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