– Niall Kelly reports from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
MIESHA TATE IS the new UFC bantamweight champion after she stunned Holly Holm in a five-round classic at UFC 196.
With just 90 seconds remaining of an enthralling back and forth that swung both ways, Tate locked in a rear naked choke that overpowered the champion and forced referee John McCarthy to step in and stop the fight.
“I’ve waited so long to hear you say that” she beamed as commentator Joe Rogan introduced her as the new and undisputed champion at her third attempt.
It was bitter disappointment for Holm, whose sensational title win over Ronda Rousey in November thrust her into the spotlight as one of the UFC’s biggest names just three fights into her career with the organisation.
A heavy favourite to defend her title and pave the way for a mouthwatering rematch with Rousey later this year, her defeat leaves those plans in total disarray. Even after her best efforts to loosen Tate’s vice-like grip and wriggle free had failed, Holm refused to tap out and forced McCarthy to intervene.
“It wasn’t the right move to shake her off my back,” she said. “It was stupid and I should have fought it off more.”
Tate had promised that she would turn this into a messy scrap and, after Holm marginally shaded the stand-up exchanges in the first round, Tate drove her opponent backwards and to the mat for a takedown in the opening moments of a sensational second round.
When she took Holm’s back and tried to lock in a choke, the champion looked to be in serious trouble, the preacher’s daughter praying for the bell. Remarkably Holm managed to hold off the finish and made it to the end of a 10-8 round which brought the bulk of the MGM Grand Garden crowd to their feet.
Holm was quick to ensure that she wouldn’t be caught again so easily and wriggled out of two more takedown attempts in the third, a round in which she used her superior boxing skills to land the crisper, cleaner shots.
When Holm had the better of the fourth round as well, Tate knew that she would likely need a finish to snatch the win. She bided her time over those final five minutes before wrestling Holm to the ground with the takedown that would prove to be decisive.
The champion was not to be dethroned so easily. Holm summoned all of her power in a bid to toss Tate from her back, but succeeded only in making her own plight worse. Tate slipped her arm under and Holm, defiant till the last, went out on her shield by refusing to tap.
“I’m so excited, I’m so emotional,” the new champion said. ”I can’t describe it. I’m freaking out inside.”
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