The UFC has been diligently working to get former Strikeforce champion Gina Carano to come back to MMA and take on the current UFC women’s bantam weight champion Ronda Rousey.
Carano has been on hiatus for nearly five years after losing to Cyborg, and some feel that it would be unfair for her to join the UFC and immediately get to fight the champ.
Miesha Tate recently voiced her opinion on the issue, saying that the possible fight between Rousey and Carano sounds like a joke.
“I really feel that it’s just kind of a joke,” Tate told MMA Junkie Radio. “It really is. Gina was a great fighter, and she’s a beautiful women. Ronda is a great fighter, and she’s an attractive girl. But to say that Gina should be able to come in after five years of nothing and take on arguably the best female fighter ever? Come on.”
Tate has fought Rousey twice, and lost both times. She recently landed her first win and says that letting Carano have an immediate title fight would be a set back for women in the UFC.
“Women’s MMA has been working to legitimize ourselves for so long, and we finally broke the ice, we’re finally in the UFC, and we’re getting some credibility. Don’t take that away by putting a fight together that is based entirely on looks and has little to nothing to do with skill set,” Tate explained.
“The only thing that drives that is they’re both attractive,” Tate added. “It makes the women’s title hold no value. It makes it look like it’s a joke and they just put whatever’s going to sell. If we’re going to really legitimize women’s MMA as a sport and have it respected as a sport, then you have to treat it as such.”
Tate revealed that she thinks Carano should take her on first. “If Gina is serious about making a comeback, then I think I would be the perfect person for her to step in to fight against,” Tate said. “I’m not the champion, and it makes kind of a mockery of women’s MMA to have her come in and fight the champion. “If she can beat me, I’ll wish her well on her way to the title, and I’ll definitely be rooting for her.”
Should Carano be allowed to fight Rousey upon entering the UFC? Leave your comments below.
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