More at Stake for Miesha Tate

Fighter Miesha Tate may have lost a chance to fight Kim Couture on StrikeForce’s May 15th card, but has gained a huge opportunity when they announced Couture’s replacement, the undefeated *Sarah* Kaufman. With a win over Kaufman, who is currently the fifth ranked fighter in the Bantamweight division according to the website, Tate would move ahead in the standings. However, other rewards lie ahead with a victory. Tate discussed what other things are at stake for this
fight. The first is the opportunity to fight in her home state of Washingtonon June 19.

“(Strikefoce) is throwing that card in Kent, WA, which is a half an hour from where I grew up. There is a lot of motivation for me to get a fight
there. It’s exciting for me,” Tate remarked. Tate also sees a huge bonus is the opportunity to face an opponent she’s always appreciated, Shayna Baszler.

“Shayna is someone I have respected for a very long time and I would be honored to fight her,” Tate said of Baszler. “She has always been one of my favorite fighters actually. I think she just got an incredibly well rounded
game, and you can watch any of her fights and she never quits coming.”
Tate admits that Baszler, who is currently ranked fourth in the Bantamweight division, has been an inspiration to her.

“I always loved watching her fight. I’ve watched her since right around the time I turned pro. I got a chance to meet her after her fight with Cyborg, and just complimented her because I think that she is an amazing fighter. And to think I would get an opportunity to fight her is really cool. It’s like whoa. It blows my mind. It’s really exciting.”

Not to say Tate is looking past the undefeated Sarah Kaufman. In fact, Tate sees giving Kaufman her first blemish on her flawless record as a goal. Tate has been on a five fight win streak, having set herself a grueling schedule the past six months; having fought her last four fights since November. For any fighter that would be a tough road to haul, but Tate sees this as an advantage.
“It’s different when you fight. You can really learn more about yourself than (you would) in just a practice room. There is tape you can review and you can learn what kind of mistakes and what good things you do in a
pressure atmosphere.”

Tate is not only hoping to win her fight with Sarah Kaufman, but that Kaufman and herself will bring focus to an ever growing women’s division in Strikeforce.
“I am definitely counting on her to not let me down and I don’t think she will. She seems like she takes the sport very seriously,” Tate stated about Kaufman. “This could be the fight of the night. I think it’s going to bring a lot more limelight to the 135 pound division; that there is more than just Gina Carano and Cyborg. There is a lot more depth to the talent pool. It will be hers and my time to shine on the 15th.”

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