Miesha Tate — Biography
Miesha Tate's journey into combat sports began unconventionally in her youth. Growing up in Tacoma, Washington, and raised by her mother, Michelle, and stepfather, Robert Schmidt, Tate was a spirited child who embraced the rough and tumble of neighborhood playgrounds, often joining the boys in their games. Her athletic inclination led her to Franklin Pierce High School, where she ultimately chose the demanding world of amateur wrestling over basketball. She dedicated herself to wrestling, competing alongside the boys from her freshman year until graduation. Tate candidly admitted in 2011 that her initial wrestling experience was a steep learning curve, describing it as being "like a fish out of water" and enduring significant early defeats. However, her perseverance paid off, and in her senior year of 2005, she clinched the girls' state championship title. Her path veered towards mixed martial arts during her time at Central Washington University, when a friend invited her to an MMA club. Tate found a natural fit there, noting that "it really was a bunch of wrestlers."
Tate's fighting style is characterized by a formidable command of grappling disciplines, encompassing wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and robust submission defense. This wrestling-centric approach earned her the early moniker "Takedown." A landmark achievement in her career was her Strikeforce Bantamweight Championship victory in July 2011, where she became the first woman to ever secure a submission win against Marloes Coenen in an MMA bout. Her exceptional grappling skills were further showcased at UFC 183, where she outmaneuvered Olympic wrestling medalist Sara McMann. Tate also made history as the first fighter to successfully defend against Ronda Rousey's infamous armbar on multiple occasions. Following their initial encounter in March 2012, Rousey acknowledged Tate's ground game as "much more savvy on the ground than I anticipated." Early in her career, Tate was particularly known for her powerful double-leg takedowns, often executed by driving opponents against the cage. From dominant top positions, she favored side control over mount for her attacks. When controlling an opponent from the rear, she typically employed a body triangle to deliver strikes. Her wrestling accolades translated into significant ground power, allowing her to maintain control in advantageous positions. Tate's extensive training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu is evident in her offensive grappling. When attacking from her guard, she frequently sought armbar or triangle choke submissions. She demonstrated a varied submission arsenal, including heel hooks, guillotines, and kimura locks. During her bout with Julie Kedzie, Tate adeptly transitioned from a triangle choke to a dominant mount position. Media outlets such as Yahoo! and FoxSports.com consistently lauded her ground game as "powerful" and "dominant," observing that opponents often struggled when taken down. Julie Kedzie, for instance, largely avoided engaging Tate on the ground during their fight. Ronda Rouse
Tate's fighting style is characterized by a formidable command of grappling disciplines, encompassing wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and robust submission defense. This wrestling-centric approach earned her the early moniker "Takedown." A landmark achievement in her career was her Strikeforce Bantamweight Championship victory in July 2011, where she became the first woman to ever secure a submission win against Marloes Coenen in an MMA bout. Her exceptional grappling skills were further showcased at UFC 183, where she outmaneuvered Olympic wrestling medalist Sara McMann. Tate also made history as the first fighter to successfully defend against Ronda Rousey's infamous armbar on multiple occasions. Following their initial encounter in March 2012, Rousey acknowledged Tate's ground game as "much more savvy on the ground than I anticipated." Early in her career, Tate was particularly known for her powerful double-leg takedowns, often executed by driving opponents against the cage. From dominant top positions, she favored side control over mount for her attacks. When controlling an opponent from the rear, she typically employed a body triangle to deliver strikes. Her wrestling accolades translated into significant ground power, allowing her to maintain control in advantageous positions. Tate's extensive training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu is evident in her offensive grappling. When attacking from her guard, she frequently sought armbar or triangle choke submissions. She demonstrated a varied submission arsenal, including heel hooks, guillotines, and kimura locks. During her bout with Julie Kedzie, Tate adeptly transitioned from a triangle choke to a dominant mount position. Media outlets such as Yahoo! and FoxSports.com consistently lauded her ground game as "powerful" and "dominant," observing that opponents often struggled when taken down. Julie Kedzie, for instance, largely avoided engaging Tate on the ground during their fight. Ronda Rouse
