Miesha Tate eyes 'statement' win over Lauren Murphy at UFC Long Island
Miesha Tate with her daughter, Amaia, at UFC Long Island media day on July 13, 2022. Credit: Newsday/Mark LaMonica
For someone of Miesha Tate’s stature in the history of women’s mixed martial arts, she hoisted quite a bit of expectation and pressure onto her shoulders at UFC Long Island media day on Wednesday.
“I really want to make this fight the statement of my career,” Tate said.
Bold words from a former UFC and Strikeforce bantamweight champion who has fought against some of the legends of her sport in Ronda Rousey, Amanda Nunes and Holly Holm.
Tate will face Lauren Murphy to kick off the ABC broadcast of the main card on Saturday afternoon at UBS Arena. Since retiring in 2016, it will be Tate’s third fight in her comeback that began last year. But it will be her first fight at flyweight after spending her career 10 pounds higher at bantamweight.
The flyweight division began a year after Tate retired, so she never had the chance to compete in the 125-pound weight class.
“I think I was always meant to be here and I just never had the opportunity,” Tate said of the flyweight division. “I really feel like this was my true weight class for the longest time. I was trying to put on size to be competitive at 135, but I think it robbed me somewhat of my cardio. I didn't need that extra size. I think it was more of a hindrance to me than anything. So I really feel like the best version of myself is going to be at 125.”
She credited a phone call with UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard as part of the impetus for her dropping down to flyweight.
“Well, which one's going to get me to the title faster?” Tate recalled asking Maynard.
Tate (19-8) said she feels a win over Murphy (15-5) at UFC Long Island would put her in line for a title shot against champion Valentina Shevchenko, regarded as one of if not the best female fighters in any weight class. Tate is the No. 10 ranked bantamweight, and Murphy is No. 3 at flyweight. Shevchenko already has defended her title against the top four ranked fighters and five of the top eight, so a title shot for Tate certainly is a possibility if she can beat Murphy.
“I know what Valentina looks like at her best, she's an animal she's an absolute beast,” Tate said. “And I got to get this fight done with Lauren Murphy. You know, she's ranked inside the top five, so for me this is a real treat. To enter a division, get a top-five ranked opponent and really be able to see in the near future that I think Valentina is on the horizon.”
Another first for Tate besides the weight class will be two people in the crowd: her daughter, Amaia, 4, and her son, Daxton, 2.
“It’s not going to be just Miesha the fighter, but it's going to be Miesha the mama,” Tate said. “And I absolutely refuse to lose with my two children sitting cageside. So, you might be seeing me fighting with a little bit more vengeance than normal.”
Mark La Monica is a deputy sports editor at Newsday. He also covers mixed martial arts.
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