Miesha Tate: I wish Cyborg would have punched Angela Magana harder

Arguably the biggest story to emerge from the UFC athletes retreat earlier this month surrounds a dramatic clash between UFC featherweight star Cris “Cyborg” Justino and UFC strawweight Angela Magana. This drama was sparked when Magana made some nasty comments about Cyborg  online, and reached a violent crescendo when a vengeful Cyborg punched Magana in the face at the athletes retreat.

In the wake of this incident, Magana has elected to press charges against Cyborg, and the UFC claims to be taking Cyborg’s punch very seriously.

That said, the majority of Cyborg and Magana’s fellow fighters seem to be siding with the former. Everyone from UFC strawweight Paige VanZant to UFC featherweight Frankie Edgar to new UFC featherweight champ Max Holloway have come out in support of the Brazilian.

One fighter that has been particularly vocal in her support of Cyborg is former UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate. Tate reaffirmed her position during a conversation with the media in the buildup to Saturday’s UFC 212.

“That was a great day for me,” Tate said of the day Magana was punched. (via MMAJunkie.com). ““I thought it was wonderful. I wish she would have punched Angela harder.”

“Angela is a bully,” she continued. “She’s like a child who never grew up, and it’s not right. I think that there should be harsher consequences for people who publicly bully people on the Internet, in person… So I think she had it coming. I don’t blame Cyborg a bit. I hope that the legal system looks at everything, because she really had it coming. So I’m Team Cyborg all the way with that.” 

At present, it is not known how the UFC will respond to Cyborg’s punch on Magana. That said, it does not appear to be affecting her chances of fighting at UFC 214 this July 29.

Do you agree with Miesha Tate’s comments on this Cyborg – Magana feud?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 6/4/2017.