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[Cat--Smasher]

Strikeforce's Tate happy with win, but doesn't believe she's earned Rousey rematch

Rousey's old nemesis, Miesha Tate (13-3 MMA, 6-2 SF), also had her name brought up for a rematch. But in somewhat of an MMA rarity, Tate said she's not yet deserving of a crack at her former title.

Tate closed out the preliminary card on Showtime Extreme from Valley View Casino Center with a riveting third-round submission of Julie Kedzie (16-11 MMA, 0-2 SF). It was a back-and-forth fight, with Kedzie, who was nearly a 5-to-1 underdog, surprising many in the first round only to need to survive Tate's offense in the second.

In the third, though, Kedzie leveled Tate with a kick to the face. But Tate rallied on the ground to submit Kedzie with an armbar – the same hold Rousey beat her with to take the title in March.

"At this point, everyone's saying it's 'Fight of the Night,' but I'm personally not happy with my performance and I don't think it was a contention-worthy performance," Tate said. "So I'm not going to ask for (a title shot) at this point because I don't feel that I deserve it. I think that I need to take a couple fights and I need a better performance than that. The fans deserve something better, and I'm just taking it one step at a time and see where it goes from there."

Few would argue with Tate that if Strikeforce gave official post-fight bonus awards, she and Kedzie would have been celebrating a "Fight of the Night" check. And the fans certainly enjoyed the fight, as did Zuffa and UFC President Dana White, who was cageside to watch as a fan.

But even if Tate is being hard on herself over what she believes the fans deserve, she at least was able to get a fight-related smile on her birthday over the armbar.

"It's kind of ironic, I guess, if you think about it," Tate told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com). "Winning a fight is always satisfying. I was happy that I won. But I wasn't thrilled with my performance."

After Kedzie kicked Tate in the face, she appeared to be out for a moment. But Tate said she was alert – though she had to play defense and start to work for the submission that eventually ended the fight.

"I felt like I was aware the whole time," Tate said. "Obviously, she rocked me and she dropped me. But she hit me with the kick and I was aware when I hit the ground. She started hitting me with punches, and I just tried to work for the finish from there."

Strikeforce's Tate happy with win, but doesn't believe she's earned Rousey rematch | MMAjunkie.com

[Qball1974]

That was FON for sure. Fun fight to watch.

[Cat--Smasher]

Tate vs Kedzie fight video:
Miesha Tate vs Julie Kedzie Fight Video - Strikeforce: Rousey vs Kaufman Prelim | FightVideoMMA - Mixed Martial Arts Videos, MMA Fight Videos, MMA News, MMA Shows, Video Clips... |

[Fe1]

Why not a rematch with Kaufman? This time with 5 minute rounds

[Cat--Smasher]

Originally Posted by Fe1

Why not a rematch with Kaufman? This time with 5 minute rounds

Sounds like a good fight. Both known names, rematch, one is hot... it is marketable.

But would Tate want to fight Sarah as she is coming off a loss. It is possible as the loss was to the champ and Tate could revenge that loss to Sarah.

[MIZjitsZOU]

Originally Posted by Cat--Smasher

Sounds like a good fight. Both known names, rematch, one is hot... it is marketable.

But would Tate want to fight Sarah as she is coming off a loss. It is possible as the loss was to the champ and Tate could revenge that loss to Sarah.

Unfortunately with their given talent pool there is not a lot of options. IMO

So she might have to fight her even though she is coming off a loss.

[Fe1]

I'd watch the rematch. They're both at the top of their division. It makes sense.