Report: Tate vs. Nunes, Jedrzejczyk vs. Gadelha Rumored For UFC 195
With today’s breaking news that UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey would be facing off with former boxing champion Holly Holm in the main event of January 2, 2016’s UFC 195 from Las Vegas, consensus No. 1 contender Miesha Tate was unceremoniously left out in the cold.
“Cupcake” supposedly had the next shot at Rousey on lockdown after her telling decision win over Jessica Eye at July 25’s UFC on FOX 16, but the promotion ultimately decided that a third Rousey vs. Tate showdown apparently wasn’t the bout fans wanted to see.
However, Tate will reportedly still fight on the card. The L.A. Times’ Lance Pugmire revealed on Twitter that he had spoken with UFC president Dana White, and Tate will supposedly face Amanda Nunes, who recently demolished Olympic medalist Sara McMann at August 8’s UFC Fight Night 73:
Just spoke to @danawhite about the @RondaRousey @_HOLLYHOLM fight…he says he’d like @MieshaTate vs. Amanda Nunes on the card.
— Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) August 21, 2015
The fight potentially provides a clear-cut contender for the next shot at Rousey if she gets past Holm as the odds would overwhelmingly suggest, but obviously nothing’s set in stone with the long-awaited superfight between Rousey and ‘Cyborg’ Justino looming large.
It appears that UFC 195 is going to be a showcase event for the female side of fighting, and it’s only growing in scope. White also told Pugmire that women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk will most likely return at the event to tentatively defend her title against Brazilian rival Claudia Gadelha, who is still recovering from a torn ligament in her finger suffered in her one-sided win over former WSOF champ Jessica Aguilar at August 1’s UFC 190:
Full story coming but @danawhite adds Joanna Jedrzejczyk will defend her strawweight belt likely vs. Claudia Gadelha on Rousey-Holm card. — Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) August 21, 2015
Finally, White stated that giving Holm the shot at Rousey over Tate came down to the intriguing nature of the bout and giving the fans a contest they’d new seen, adding that Holm owns a small height and reach advantage over ‘Rowdy’:
Decision came down to giving fans a fight @danawhite felt they’d already seen or a different challenge against a distinguished boxer.
— Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) August 21, 2015
“The @_HOLLYHOLM fight for @RondaRousey is way more intriguing,” @danawhite said. Holm’ reach and height slightly greater than Rousey’s. — Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) August 21, 2015
That may be true, but it’s not going to matter much if the lifelong judoka wraps ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ up in the clinch early. Either way, UFC 195 is shaping up to be quite possibly the biggest-ever showcase for women’s MMA; so stay tuned to LowKickMMA.com for any and all developing news on the event.
