Bitter rivals Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate meet again at UFC 168

Amidst the nearly 7,000 rooms, endless hallways, and multitude of towers that make up MGM Grand Garden Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, the past two years of Ronda Rousey’s life were encapsulated this week by a single, thin hotel room wall.

The 26-year-old has risen from raw rookie to reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship title holder, travelled around the world several times over, and become the face of women’s mixed martial arts – not to mention one of UFC’s biggest stars.

She has been named to Time magazine’s list of 30 notable under-30 personalities. The former Olympic judo medallist has been featured on CNN, in Rolling Stone magazine and the New York Times.

Rousey is a regular on ESPN and late-night network shows. She spent much of the fall going Hollywood, filming Fast & Furious 7 and The Expendables 3, alongside A-listers such as Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson, Sylvester Stallone and Paul Walker.

PHOTO: Al Powers/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
A general view of photos hanging of the opposing coaches Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate during filming of season eighteen of The Ultimate Fighter on May 30, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

But as much as the life of Rousey has changed over the past 24 months, she’s never quite been able to shake Miesha Tate.

Even when they’ve had other opponents, each was inevitably asked about the other. Earlier this year for a series of media events, they travelled from Los Angeles to New York, Chicago to Las Vegas – together. They were locked in for 12 weeks to film the most recent season of UFC’s reality-TV competition, The Ultimate Fighter.

When Rousey arrived in Vegas a few days ago at the start of UFC 168 fight week, it seemed agonizingly appropriate, then, that of the thousands of rooms available at MGM Grand, she was sharing a wall with her antagonist and bitter rival.

UFC soon arranged alternate accommodations. On Saturday, it’s up to Rousey to put Tate behind her for good, when they meet for the UFC women’s bantamweight title in the co-main event of UFC 168.

Headlined by a middleweight title bout between champion Chris Weidman (10-0) and former champ Anderson Silva (33-5), UFC 168 is expected to be the company’s biggest event of 2013, and one of the most successful in UFC history.

“I want to win every single fight and they’re all equally important to me no matter who it’s against,” said Rousey (7-0). “But it’ll be nice to not have to deal with it anymore.”

From the moment the two met in the Strikeforce promotion, Tate (13-4) and Rousey have been oil and water.

Tate felt the flamboyant, outspoken Rousey jumped the queue, earning a title shot more with her mouth and looks than anything she’d done as a professional fighter. Rousey thought Tate was jealous and had no idea how to become a true superstar in the game. (UFC president Dana White says Rousey was the reason he finally relented and brought the Strikeforce women’s division into UFC.) Even when they had other opponents on their agenda – champion Rousey beat Liz Carmouche at UFC 157 earlier this year, while Tate was defeated by Cat Zingano – they found their way back to the other. Zingano was initially supposed to coach against Rousey on The Ultimate Fighter, but a knee injury sidelined her. Zingano’s replacement: Tate.

For three months, she and Rousey saw each other daily, as members of their respective teams vied for a UFC contract. Tate played constant practical jokes; Rousey cussed Tate out routinely. Rousey said she grew tired of Tate’s smirk and holier-than-thou attitude. Tate said people watching the show got a glimpse into Rousey’s true character.

“Think about it. Everyone thinks about me as being this big trash talker, but who have I had a problem with that I fought, except for Miesha?” said Rousey.

“I really don’t want to have to put myself in this situation where anyone can instigate me ever again . . . I’m going to make two movies and I’m going beat this chick. And I’m going to make it even more unprecedented than ever before.”

PHOTO: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Miesha Tate says she was overly emotional when she lost to Ronda Rousey in March 2012.

Tate insists she’s a better fighter than when they first squared off. She also says she’s a smarter fighter. Tate now admits that she was overly emotional when she lost to Rousey in March 2012, letting her personal feelings for the then-challenger affect her inside the cage.

“I went out there, I kind of abandoned the game plan a little bit and I allowed her to play into her game plan,” said Tate. “I just got sucked into all of it.”

The end result: Tate’s arm was shredded and she tapped out in the first round like every opponent Rousey has faced.

For Tate, this rematch is as big as a fight can get.

“I don’t want to just win this fight. I want to win this fight. I want to finish this fight. And I think that’s one thing we could probably agree on. I’m sure she feels the same way,” said Tate, who has nine victories via stoppage in her career.

“We want to beat the hell out of each other. We want to finish the fight. We don’t want a decision. I don’t want a decision. I’m motivated and I’m ready for that. I’m counting on it. I’m waiting for that. I’m anticipating it. I know exactly what I’m getting myself into.”

ddeibert@thestarphoenix.com

Twitter.com/davedeibert

Take Our Poll