New champ Miesha Tate will face Ronda Rousey in first title defense

MANILA, Philippines – The best laid plans of the Ultimate Fighting Championship were thrown into chaos after Holly Holm was choked out in the fifth round by Miesha Tate at UFC 196 on Sunday March 6.

Now, instead of Ronda Rousey seeking revenge against Holly Holm, Tate will be defending her UFC women’s bantamweight title against Rousey, who holds two previous victories over the new champion.

UFC president Dana White said he had already decided before the fight that the winner would face Rousey, whose title reign ended by second round knockout to Holm.

“I think that Ronda now will fight Miesha Tate for the title. That’s what’s going to happen,” White told ESPN. “That’s what I said before this fight even happened. Whoever wins tonight will fight Ronda for the title.”

Rousey wasn’t in Las Vegas, having attended a Pro Wrestling Guerilla (PWG) card in Los Angeles instead, according to TMZ. Still, White said he spoke to Rousey via text to let her know what had happened.

White said he contacted Rousey, who was not watching Saturday’s fight.

“She said, ‘Looks like I gotta get back to work,'” White reveals.

Rousey, 29, has had Tate’s number in the past, having submitted her by armbar in the first round when they first met in Strikeforce in 2012, then replicating the feat the following year at UFC 168 in round 3.

Rousey, who revealed that she went through a dark phase after suffering her first loss, wasn’t expected to return to the Octagon until the fall, but White says he’ll ask her to come back sooner. – Rappler.com