Miesha Tate

And it wasn't a conscious thought, but it is how I look back on it and recognize the reason I became a fighter is because it is one of the strongest, most difficult and masculine things that you can do.

And it wasn't a conscious thought, but it is how I look back on it and recognize the reason I became a fighter is because it is one of the strongest, most difficult and masculine things that you can do.

I think the moment that I was born as a fighter would be in round two of my very first fight. So remember when I was telling you that I had no interest in fighting anybody and then I got talked into trying this MMA club sport and I use air quotes. It was just a little class that was taught by students going to Central Washington University.

I think the moment that I was born as a fighter would be in round two of my very first fight. So remember when I was telling you that I had no interest in fighting anybody and then I got talked into trying this MMA club sport and I use air quotes. It was just a little class that was taught by students going to Central Washington University.

I learned how to choke people and I still was not interested in doing any striking. I got invited to a local fight card in Yakima, Washington, and I watched the fights and I was just absolutely floored. I was taken back. I had never seen anything like it in my life. Because amateur fights, so mind you, amateur fights are highly entertaining and they pour their whole heart and soul out there.

I learned how to choke people and I still was not interested in doing any striking. I got invited to a local fight card in Yakima, Washington, and I watched the fights and I was just absolutely floored. I was taken back. I had never seen anything like it in my life. Because amateur fights, so mind you, amateur fights are highly entertaining and they pour their whole heart and soul out there.

So I remember having this feeling of being drawn to it like a moth to a flame and thinking, God, if they can do it, I can do it. You know, I've been through this in wrestling. Like there were no female fighters on the card, by the way, but I was so inspired by the males. And so this little flame had kind of been lit.

So I remember having this feeling of being drawn to it like a moth to a flame and thinking, God, if they can do it, I can do it. You know, I've been through this in wrestling. Like there were no female fighters on the card, by the way, but I was so inspired by the males. And so this little flame had kind of been lit.

And then they made an announcement that if there were any females in the audience, there would be a fight card in three weeks. That was for only females. And I was like, no way they're females do this. Okay. I'm going to make my way down. And I signed up right there.

And then they made an announcement that if there were any females in the audience, there would be a fight card in three weeks. That was for only females. And I was like, no way they're females do this. Okay. I'm going to make my way down. And I signed up right there.

And then three weeks later, I had my first fight and ended up fighting this gal named Liz Posner who owned a Muay Thai kickboxing gym with her husband. I think in

And then three weeks later, I had my first fight and ended up fighting this gal named Liz Posner who owned a Muay Thai kickboxing gym with her husband. I think in

uh in bc i think in vancouver um british columbia so we were fighting round one i take her down she you know she stands super tall legs were available and i was like oh my god that was that was so easy and i was just taken back because i was used to wrestling these monster men so And I think I was I forgot to even throw a punch on the ground because I was so new.

uh in bc i think in vancouver um british columbia so we were fighting round one i take her down she you know she stands super tall legs were available and i was like oh my god that was that was so easy and i was just taken back because i was used to wrestling these monster men so And I think I was I forgot to even throw a punch on the ground because I was so new.

I literally never punched anybody. And round two came out. She caught me in a Muay Thai clinch, which if you don't know what it is, you kind of just take your hands, put them on as you're facing somebody on the back of their head. You clasp your hands together and then you bring your forearms in front of the collarbones. You kind of have this tie around here. Hmm. on someone's head.

I literally never punched anybody. And round two came out. She caught me in a Muay Thai clinch, which if you don't know what it is, you kind of just take your hands, put them on as you're facing somebody on the back of their head. You clasp your hands together and then you bring your forearms in front of the collarbones. You kind of have this tie around here. Hmm. on someone's head.

And I did not know what this was. I couldn't have named it if you would have asked me. And I surely didn't know how to get out of it. So she begins firing knees right through the center. And one of them hits my nose, smashes it, clean on. Another one's coming down the pipe. And at this point, I am just trying so hard to get through this so that I can take her down.

And I did not know what this was. I couldn't have named it if you would have asked me. And I surely didn't know how to get out of it. So she begins firing knees right through the center. And one of them hits my nose, smashes it, clean on. Another one's coming down the pipe. And at this point, I am just trying so hard to get through this so that I can take her down.

So I'm driving in as hard as I can to worry up against the ropes because this is not in even a cage. It's in a boxing ring, which makes it, you know, harder to wrestle. But anyways, I take, I finally know I slide down kind of towards her ankles.

So I'm driving in as hard as I can to worry up against the ropes because this is not in even a cage. It's in a boxing ring, which makes it, you know, harder to wrestle. But anyways, I take, I finally know I slide down kind of towards her ankles.