NEW YORK — Miesha Tate shockingly announced her retirement Saturday night after she dropped a three-round decision to Raquel Pennington at UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden.
Wait WHAT?!
Thank you, @MieshaTate #UFC205 #UFCNYC https://t.co/oVmfbU8G8L
— UFC (@ufc) November 13, 2016
That ends a rocky 2016 for Tate, who won the women’s bantamweight championship she long sought when she submitted Holly Holm at UFC 196 in March, then lost that belt to Amanda Nunes at UFC 200 in July.
Tate’s loss to Pennington, her one-time protégé on “The Ultimate Fighter,” means she ends her MMA career with an 18-7 record. Two of those defeats came to Ronda Rousey, who will face Nunes at UFC 207 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas for the championship.
Tate, who just turned 30 in August, certainly made her mark on the sport, as UFC.com’s Matt Parrino duly noted.
Miesha Tate earned the sport's highest honor. She's been around in this game for a long time. One of the true pioneers and she'll be missed.
— Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) November 13, 2016
Still, it will be asked if Tate truly is retiring. She did admit her announcement came because of the fight’s outcome, so maybe she will reconsider after some time heals her wounds.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
