Tate Looking For Rematch With Zingano With Win Over Nakai

Former UFC title challenger and Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate will look for her second win inside the Octagon this weekend when she heads off Saitima, Japan to take on Japanese stand out Rin Nakai on the main card of UFC Fight Night 52.

Nakai will be making her UFC debut in the bout and is relatively unknown to most fans coming in. However, “Cupcake” insists her opponent is a tough competitor and thinks her undefeated record shows it:

“Although Rin is relatively unknown to the general public, she’s 16-0-1, and Dana (White) knows that, (UFC co-owner) Lorenzo (Fertitta) knows that, and UFC matchmakers know that,” Tate told MMAjunkie Radio. “They know that this girl’s legit and she’s tough. Sixteen wins with no losses is difficult for anybody fighting professionally; it’s quite an accomplishment.”

Tate will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in the Octagon following her unanimous decision over Liz Carmouche in April at UFC on Fox 11. Overall, she is 1-2 in the UFC following her crossover from Strikeforce.

Taking her second win won’t be easy though. Nakai will have the home field advantage and will likely get the majority of the support. But, with that said, Tate also believes she has a strong following in Japan despite having never fought there.

“I really feel like I have a strong fan base over there, because when I went over there last time when Bryan fought, I met a lot of cool fans that brought pictures for me to sign. And I feel like I’ve been more in the limelight, involved with the UFC and Strikeforce. I feel like Japanese fans have been following my career, potentially longer than Rin’s, and so I feel like if I was going to fight anywhere else and fight a hometown person, I would want to do it in Japan because there’s just such an honorable culture. They’re always respectful of the opponent. If I was in Brazil, it would be a completely different story.”

With two losses to the division’s current Queen Ronda Rousey, it’s unlikely that Tate will challenge for the title anytime soon; even with a dominant win on Saturday. She still eyes fighting for the title again but if that’s not available she would love a rematch with Cat Zingano who beat her in her UFC debut.

“Beating her is definitely a step in the right direction for me,” Tate said. “But I don’t know exactly where that puts me. I hope it means I’m getting closer to a title shot one more time, and if that’s good enough, I’ll take the title shot. If not, I’d like to face Cat Zingano again.”

With Zingano having already been promised a title shot when she returns, that fight seems very unlikely. Maybe a match against Bethe Correia who smashed Shayna Bazler recently would be more suited?