Miesha Tate: Ready for Strikeforce Action Tonight!

Interview by Sean Farrell

“It’s just important that we do so. I’m really motivated to be exciting, to be entertaining, and I’m hoping for a war so that we can really say that this is what women’s MMA is all about.” – Miesha Tate

After earning her shot at the Strikeforce women’s welterweight title by winning a two-fight, one-night tournament in August of last 2010, Miesha Tate was forced out of action with a knee injury delaying her slightly.

Now, almost a year later, “Takedown” will finally get the chance to get her belt against women’s welterweight champ Marloes Coenen. The two meet tonight in the co-main event of Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson in a bout which the 24-year-old Tate believes is a landmark one for women’s MMA.

“I think especially since we’ve merged under the Zuffa umbrella that we’re going to be getting a lot more eyes watching us, and I think this is going to be a big mile marker in the evolution of women’s MMA,” she said at the pre-fight press conference. Tate and I spoke on women’s mixed martial arts and we had a fairly interesting conversation on the subject.

SF: You’ve stated your concerns for women’s mixed martial arts, is it time for WMMA to become its own entity like Valkyrie and JEWELS in Japan? All the pieces are there, someone just needs to put the money behind it.

The depth of female fighters in MMA is incredible and people don’t even realize it, wouldn’t an all-female fight card makes sense to showcase the talents of Carano, Cyborg, Fuji, Gurgle, Yamanaka, Nunes, Kaufman, LaRosa and yourself to name just a few of WMMA’s elite?

Well I would love that but to be honest I don’t think an all women’s card is the way to go YET. I think the rest of the world in general isn’t ready to accept women’s fighting the way I wish they would. I think we still need men as a main draw so I think the best idea would be to split the card half men/half women alternating 1 womens fight then a mens fight and so on.

SF: Many people don’t know that in ALL the fights in MMA history, 7 of the 10 most watched were female fights. Doesn’t that pretty much solidify what many casual viewers want to see more of? Many featuring Carano and Cyborg.

It definitely says something! I think the most important thing is that it proves women’s MMA does have a draw and the UFC should keep it around!

Tate believes that it’s her’s and Coenen’s responsibility to deliver fireworks tomorrow night to prove the value of women’s MMA to the world. “We’re going to have two talented, top 135lbs. representatives, and I think Marloes and myself are going to put on a great fight,” Tate said. “It’s just important that we do so. I’m really motivated to be exciting, to be entertaining, and I’m hoping for a war so that we can really say that this is what women’s MMA is all about. So it’s definitely important.”

Tune into Strikeforce/M-1 Global Present: Fedor vs. Henderson Live! on Showtime tonight!

The Co- Main Event will feature Miesha Tate taking on Marloes Coenen in a five round bout for the women’s welterweight championship. The main tilt of the night will contain two legends. One we all know by one name, Fedor. The other, the United States own Olympian and former UFC champion, Dan Henderson.

Don’t miss this. DVR if you must!