Miesha Tate hopes Julianna Pena defeats Amanda Nunes, ‘if she doesn’t do it, I believe I will’

By Drake Riggs - July 15, 2021

Miesha Tate is officially back and looking to regain the UFC bantamweight title.

Julianna-Pena-Miesha-Tate

Next on deck for the current champion in Amanda Nunes will be The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 18 winner, Julianna Pena. A fellow Washington native of Tate’s, Pena was also coached by “Cupcake” on that season of TUF.

“That’s what I want for myself but I think it’s cross that bridge when we get there,” Tate told MMA Fighting regarding a Nunes rematch. “I genuinely want Julianna to get this fight and I want her to win. I will be nothing but happy for her if she’s able to do that. There’s no part of me that wishes for her not to do this so I can have this fairytale storybook ending.

“What will be, will be. It doesn’t matter. I will get there eventually to the championship. I think if Julianna wins they’re going to do an immediate rematch, which is great. She has a great style, I can’t say that enough. Those cornfed folk up in Washington, we’ve just got some kind of tough about us. I’m excited for her and I want her to do it. But if she doesn’t do it, I believe I will.”

Julianna Pena will challenge Amanda Nunes next month at UFC 265 on August 7 while Miesha Tate comes out of five-year retirement this Saturday night at UFC Vegas 31. Standing in the former champion’s way will be a fighter set to have their last fight, the 44-year old Marion Reneau. “The Belizian Bruiser” intends on snapping a four-fight skid.

The bout will also act as an attempt to snap a two-fight losing streak for Tate that began with her dropping of the title. At UFC 200, Nunes’ reign began when defeating “Cupcake” by first-round rear-naked choke in the main event.


Topics:

Amanda Nunes Julianna Pena Miesha Tate UFC