Holly Holm’s Manager Accuses Miesha Tate of Ducking Despite UFC 300 Callout

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When it comes to Miesha Tate vs. Holly Holm, it boils down to a classic tale of “she said, she said.”

In early December, Tate (19-9) spoke on The MMA Hour about her recovery following her match against Julia Avila and what she wanted next. “Cupcake” was open about the outcome-dependent result, in that she would have considered retirement with a loss but would like to push on following a win. Her attention turned towards the field of bantamweight contenders, but one name caught her eye more than the others: former foe Holm.

When asked about potentially rematching Holm on UFC 300 in April, Tate was not at all opposed to it, health permitting.

“I think it’s a great time,” Tate replied. “I think that sounds reasonable [to fight Holm again]. I did get a little bit of an injury leaving that fight [against Avila]. So, I’ve got to get an MRI and check myself out just to make sure. But it’s not very severe … I’ve been walking around, and I think I’m actually alright. I think I’ll be OK. So, if I can do that, then I think Holly would be a fantastic one.”

Holm, 42, last competed against Mayra Bueno Silva in July, where she succumbed to a second-round ninja choke. Silva subsequently failed a post-fight drug test, and the loss was overturned to a no-contest, but Silva is still receiving a shot at the vacant 135-pound title. Before then, the ex-kickboxer had won three of four, with decisions over Raquel Pennington, Irene Aldana and Yana Santos, opposite a nailbiter split decision defeat against Ketlen Vieira in 2022.

Meanwhile, Tate bounced back from a two-fight skid earlier in December with a submission win over Avila. This marked her return to bantamweight after an ill-fated trip to flyweight against Lauren Murphy in 2022, where she fell short on the scorecards. Tate has competed four times since retiring after a 2016 loss to Pennington, winning two by stoppage—her comeback victory came against Marion Reneau—and losing two via decision.

According to Holm’s manager, Lenny Fresquez, their team does not believe Tate is considering the Holm rematch. The two first came to blows at UFC 196 in 2016 with Holm’s bantamweight crown on the line. While all three judges had Holm up 38-37 heading into the final frame, Tate pulled off the submission comeback to put Holm to sleep with a rear-naked choke. In the process, she handed “The Preacher’s Daughter” her first professional loss. Fresquez believes the interest is not mutual.

“She wants nothing to do with Holly,” Fresquez told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “She’s turned down the fight three times already. We are looking for someone tougher. We are hopeful we will be on UFC 300. No opponents have been brought up yet.”

UFC 300 will occur at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 13. No names on the marquee have been announced, but the promotion did release a trio of matches on its billing. At light heavyweight, former champ Jiri Prochazka will take on Aleksandar Rakic; in the featherweight division, ex-bantamweight beltholder Aljamain Sterling will battle it out with Calvin Kattar; Bo Nickal will try to stay undefeated against Cody Brundage in a middleweight contest.