Miesha Tate (pictured) sat angrily and watched Holly Holm easily pick Ronda Rousey apart with her hands in November at UFC 193. Holm capped off her standup assault with a highlight reel head kick to capture the bantamweight title, a belt that most pundits thought would only be available if Rousey chose to vacate it for Hollywood’s greener pastures.
That was supposed to be Tate’s fight, but UFC president Dana White pulled an about-face by pulling Tate after promising her next dibs at Rousey in favor of Holm. Tate was so bitter she even contemplated retirement.
Fast forward four months and here Tate stands, one perfect performance away from capturing the belt that evaded her in two straight title tilts.