Miesha Tate

About Miesha Tate

Early Life

Tate was born in Tacoma, Washington, to Michelle Tate, and was raised by Michelle and husband Robert Schmidt. A tomboy during her youth, she often socialized with the boys in her neighborhood on playgrounds. While attending Franklin Pierce High School, Tate sought a sport to participate in, and eventually chose amateur wrestling over basketball.She wrestled on the boys' team from her freshman year until graduation. "I got my butt kicked pretty hard for the first few weeks. I had no idea what I was doing, like a fish out of water," Tate recalled in 2011.During her senior year in 2005, she competed in the girls' state championship and won the title.

While Tate was attending Central Washington University, a friend of hers encouraged her to attend the mixed martial arts (MMA) club with her. "I went there, and it really was a bunch of wrestlers. I fit right in," Tate said.

Fighting Style

Tate is known for her extensive knowledge of grappling arts, including wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and submission defense; her wrestling-heavy style lead to her first nickname, "Takedown".In July 2011, Tate won the Strikeforce Bantamweight Championship by becoming the first woman to ever submit Marloes Coenen in an MMA bout.During her win at UFC 183, Tate out-grappled Olympic wrestling medalist Sara McMann.She is also noted for being the first fighter to escape Ronda Rousey's armbar on multiple occasions.Following their first bout in March 2012, Rousey described Tate as "much more savvy on the ground than I anticipated."

During the earlier phase of her career, Tate was generally noted for her double-leg takedowns, usually performed by picking an opponent up while pressing them against the cage. From top position, she typically attacked from side control as opposed to mount; in a rear position, she would usually secure a body triangle and attack with strikes.Having won multiple titles in wrestling, Tate was well known for her power on the ground, which often allowed her to hold opponents in vulnerable positions.

Tate has extensive training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. When attacking from her guard, she usually attempted an armbar or a triangle choke.She employed a variety of submissions while grappling with opponents, including heel hooks, guillotines, and kimura locks.During her fight against Julie Kedzie, she also used a triangle to transition to mount.

Numerous media outlets, including Yahoo! and FoxSports.com, described her ground game as "powerful" and "dominant," noting that Tate's opponents were often overwhelmed if taken down.Julie Kedzie typically avoided going to the ground with Tate throughout the duration of their fight. During their bout at UFC 168, Ronda Rousey repeatedly blocked and reversed Tate's takedown attempts.

Multi-Media Appearances&Sponsorships

Tate appears in the award-winning mixed martial arts documentary Fight Life. The film is directed by James Z. Feng and was released in 2013. The film's DVD bonus materials include a featurette on Tate and boyfriend Bryan Caraway.Tate is featured as a playable character in the video game EA Sports UFC.In 2015, Tate was announced as a cast member of the feature film Fight Valley, which follows women competing in an underground fight club.

She appeared nude in the 2013 ESPN Body Issue, and also appeared on the December 2013 cover of Fitness Gurls magazine, which labeled Tate "the most beautiful woman in MMA."

In 2014, Tate became the second MMA fighter (after Donald Cerrone) to join NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick's KHI Management company. Afterward, Tate gained sponsorship deals with NASCAR and Budweiser.

As of September 2021, Tate co-hosts the show Throwing Down With Renee and Miesha on Sirius XM with Renee Paquette.

In 2022, Tate was the winner of third season of Celebrity Big Brother, in which she won four Head of Household competitions.

Personal Life

Tate is a fan of the Seattle Seahawks.Tate attended Central Washington University, where she met her ex-boyfriend Bryan Caraway.In 2014, Tate was credited by Caraway with saving the life of his mother, Chris Caraway, when she suffered an asthma attack while scuba diving, stopped breathing and became completely unresponsive.

On September 5, 2016, she helped carry a six-year-old girl with a broken arm while hiking in Nevada.

On January 1, 2018, Tate announced that she was in a relationship with fellow MMA fighter Johnny Nuñez.On June 4, 2018, she gave birth to their daughter, Amaia Nevaeh Nuñez.On December 25, 2019, Tate announced that she was pregnant with their second child.On June 14, 2020, she gave birth to their son, Daxton Wylder Nuñez.

Other

Third winner of the Strikeforce (2006) Bantamweight World Title.
Ranked #58 on Maxim's "Hot 100" of 2014 list.
Retired her career with a record of 18-7.
On June 4, 2018, she gave birth to their daughter, Amaia Nevaeh Nunez. Child's father is her boyfriend and fellow MMA fighter Johnny Nunez.
On March 31, 2016, Tate endorsed Donald Trump, candidate for the Republican Party in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Announced her retirement.[November 2016].
On December 25, 2019, Tate has announced that she is pregnant with her second child expected with her boyfriend Johnny Nunez, the second baby's due date will be in June 2020.
American mixed martial artist with a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu who has competed under various promotion, such as Strikeforce and the UFC.
Attended Franklin Pierce High School, and later Central Washington University.