A thrilling fight between a former champion is in the works as Miesha Tate is expected to face the #3-ranked Lauren Murphy at the UFC show scheduled on May 14.
While the bout between Tate and Murphy was originally slated to happen at UFC 273 in April, those plans have since changed due to a scheduling issue the UFC is rectifying. Following the initial reports, multiple sources with MMA Fighting were the first to break the fight announcement. As of this writing, no contracts have been signed.
It appears Miesha Tate is taking her talents over to a new division. She recently competed last Nov. but was outpointed by a wide margin when she was tasked with facing the power-punching Ketlen Vieira.
Meanwhile, Murphy is fresh off her fourth-round TKO defeat to none other than Valentina Shevchenko. The highly anticipated flyweight fight would be Tate’s debut in the new weight class.
Miesha Tate Moves Down To 125-Pounds
After she lost to the aforementioned, Vieira, the former champion was keen on getting back in the cage soon. “CupCake” had an incredible return to competition after retiring from the sport for several years. She was paired with Marion Reneau for her welcome back fight and the two fought with each other back in July 2021.
Overall, Tate looked to be in better condition compared to the last time she competed under the UFC banner. The 35-year-old looked noticeably toned up, and her performance was one of her best showing in the UFC octagon. After shaking off some pre-fight jitters, she found her groove in the fight against Marion Reneau.
While Marion Reneau’s sharp jab and top pressure are both dangerous weapons for Tate, “CupCake” had a specific game plan in mind in order to get her hand raised. Tate managed to swing the bout in her favor several times with her unique ability to land takedowns from unexpected angles.
With Lauren Murphy losing her last fight to “Bullet”, a showdown against Miesha Tate seems ideal as it would produce renewed contender at flyweight. With Shevchenko’s six title defenses, fans are beginning to wonder which contender should be next for the dominant champ.
The fight between Murphy and Tate will serve as a great test for both athletes. If Murphy can send the former champ packing in a brand new weight class, certainly “Lucky” will be one of the hotter UFC names kicking off 2022. Currently, this flyweight match-up remains the only fight on the proposed May 14 fight card.
