Miesha Tate is ‘licking her chops’ after watching Valentina Shevchenko get out grappled by Taila Santos in their flyweight title fight at UFC 275.
Tate, who most recently fought Ketlen Vieira in a bantamweight contest at UFC Vegas 43, where she lost by unanimous decision, is moving down to flyweight in hopes of becoming a two-division UFC champion. ‘Cupcake’ eyes a title shot with a spectacular performance against Lauren Murphy next month at UFC 276, and is confident that she has the tools to beat Shevchenko, who was pushed to the limit in her title defence against Santos at UFC 275, where she won by a razor close split decision.
Miesha Tate On Valentina Shevchenko
Speaking on MMA Fighting’s The MMA Hour (as transcribed by BJPenn.com), Tate said that after watching Shevchenko’s most recent fight, where she had a tough time dealing with Santos’ grappling, she believes she’d have a lot of success against her.
“Santos wrestled, this is what I’ve been saying the whole time,” Tate said. “We already know what happens when people strike with Valentina, it’s not a great day for those people. But, even with what you saw with Julianna Pena if we can dial back it a minute, yeah she got arm barred she made a mistake… But, she got taken down by Julianna, and this is the second time she’s gotten taken down by someone who wrestles.
“She out scrambled Valentina on the ground, and these are things I’ve been saying I could do. I am capable of doing these things. I’m capable of making this fight more interesting than people who are too timid to go in and grab Valentina Shevchenko… I believe that Valentina went in with a little bit of an injury, sure, that could’ve played a role in her footwork and ability to defend on the ground. But, I’m licking my chops.”
Do you think Miesha Tate would beat Valentina Shevchenko in a potential fight?
