As happens when you become the champ, Tate says she has been called out by nearly everyone in the top 10 and is weighing a title defense at July’s UFC 200.
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The most obvious fight for “Cupcake” is either a rematch with Holm or a third showdown with Ronda Rousey. Third-ranked Cat Zingano and fourth-ranked Amanda Nunes are also ready.
Speaking in Brisbane, Australia, ahead of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir, Tate spoke at length about what her future. She also addressed the Holm fight.
Speaking with Fight Network’s John Pollock, Tate said she could see victory after the second round.
Holm “just crumbled under the pressure when I took her down in that second round,” Tate said.
“My coaches and Bryan [Caraway] actually told me, ‘She’s either going to stay down and be so scared about being submitted that you’re going to ground and pound her and beat her up or she’s going to try desperately to get up.’ "
In the fifth round, Tate said, Holm “definitely didn’t want to get stuck down there again so she tried to zealously get up and I saw the opening and I took it. We planned for that and we assumed that was going to happen.”
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UFC 200 will take place July 9 at Las Vegas. It will not include a Ronda Rousey fight; she has said her Hollywood obligations prevent her from competing.
The card could feature a rematch between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor.
