Miesha Tate: 'This could be a very ugly fight' for Holly Holm at UFC 196
LAS VEGAS — The prefight verbal warfare between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz leading up to UFC Saturday night has contrasted with the pre-fight buildup between Holly Holm and Miesha Tate.
Said Tate: “It’s like we have those two (McGregor and Diaz) flipping each other off and Holly and I are like making each other friendship bracelets."
Not quite.
Overlooked during McGregor’s non-stop bombast, Tate has made striking comments leading up to the fight. During a public workout earlier this week, she guaranteed victory over Holm before backing off ever so slightly.
“There are no guarantees in MMA,’’ she said. “But in my mind, it’s a done deal."
Tate also questioned whether Holm can take a solid punch and speculated UFC’s reigning bantamweight champion "might have a glass chin."
“I’ve seen her wobbled a couple of times with some punches that didn’t look like they were anything more than I could deliver, that’s for sure," Tate said. “Landing a solid right hand I think definitely is going to put her down.
“Holly’s a very precise and clean striker, and I think I’m a messy fighter. I think I like to make things messy and I will. I will do whatever it takes to win this fight. If I don’t allow her to be at that perfect range to land those perfect strikes, this could be a very ugly fight for her."