Well, add this one to the “only in MMA” pile. Apparenlty, the reason that Miesha Tate was denied a third fight with Ronda Rousey was because of her boyfriend.
According to No. 6 ranked Bantamweight fighter Aljamain Sterling, Miesha Tate can blame boyfriend Bryan Caraway for having her trilogy bout with UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey canned. Caraway has been turning down fight offers for major names within the division while calling out guys who have been on lengthy layoffs.
Sterling took to Twitter to make the accusations Monday afternoon.
I’m gonna have to do it! About to drop some serious inside info bc I’m ready to fight and choke the hell out of someone already!! #UFC
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) September 14, 2015
Like I told u @MieshaTate , great fight, but heard thru the grapevine u didnt get the title shot bc @BryanCaraway keeps turning down fights..
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) September 14, 2015
Good morning! Fire up the shit storm! Come out, come out, where ever you are @BryanCaraway ! @JohnnyEduardoN @MitchGagnonUFC someone please!?
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) September 14, 2015
Caraway has long been considered a villian in MMA, most notably due to his rivalry with Tate’s nemesis, Ronda Rousey. He once said on Twitter that he’d “knock her teeth down her throat, then break her arm.”
Caraway is currently ranked No. 7 in the UFC’s Bantamweight division, one spot behind Sterling. Last week, when asked why he’s facing No. 12 Frankie Saenz, Urijah Faber (No. 4) told UFC Tonight that he was offered the Caraway bout, but it was rejected. Faber then criticized Caraway for calling out fighters with ring rust.
Caraway recently fought top-15 fighter Eddie Wineland, who contemplated retirement following a jaw surgery. After beating Wineland, Caraway expressed his desire to face No. 5-ranked Michael McDonald, who hasn’t fought in nearly two years due to a severe hand injury. It would appear that Caraway is trying to take advantage of both situations to move up the ranks.
Miesha Tate was originally expected to face Ronda Rousey for a third time later this year, but was abruptly pulled from the bout in favor of undefeated Holly Holm . Dana White has said in several interviews that the UFC simply favored the fresh matchup, and that a third loss to Rousey could kill Tate’s career . Either way, Tate is out of the fight and currently has no opponent scheduled.
Is Caraway at fault here? He’s long been a controversial figure in MMA, with many calling him “Mr. Tate” due to gaining fame from being Tate’s boyfriend. If Bryan Caraway not fighting championship caliber opponents is keeping Miesha Tate from fighting championship caliber opponents, she may need to re-evaluate things.
[Image via Steve Marcus/Getty Image Sports]
