Former UFC champion provides retirement update after suffering horror injury in last win

Former UFC champion Miesha Tate could retire after harrowing injury stalled comeback plans

Before making the walk at UFC Des Moines in early May, former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate hadn’t competed since December 2023.

Back then, ‘Cupcake’ got the better of Julia Avila to maintain her ranking and reignite talk of a potential opportunity to regain the UFC gold at 135 pounds.

But a lengthy stint on the sidelines followed, and while it was previously unexplained, Tate recently took to Instagram to reveal the battle she endured after a freak injury in her decision win over Avila.

“I had my hooks in on her back, one of which was a bit shallow, and I really went to be very aggressive to try to force her from back to belly, belly down, and I ripped two of my ligaments and I had to have reconstructive surgery.

“It was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. It was harder than coming back after having my two kids,” Tate said. “At multiple points, [I] bawled my eyes out and thought I would never be able to fight again.

“After an 18-month layoff, the biggest injury of my career, I can honestly say that I am happy with this performance [at UFC Des Moines]…even in a loss.”

Having overcome a sizable hurdle to lace the gloves again, Tate went on to admit that the defeat to Santos at UFC Des Moines might close the curtain on her career as an active fighter.

“I am not making any final decisions,” Tate said. “[It] remains to be seen whether I will fight again or not. I’m not going to clarify either of those because I think there is no right or wrong answer.”

Miesha Tate already retired once in announcement Dana White ‘did not see coming’

Should the former champion decide to retire, it wouldn’t be the first time that she’s hung up the gloves.

Tate announced a shock MMA retirement in 2016 after suffering defeat against then future women’s bantamweight queen Raquel Pennington at UFC 205.

The bout came just four months after ‘Cupcake’ had her title reign ended by Amanda Nunes.

UFC CEO Dana White was among those shocked by the decision, admitting he “didn’t see the Miesha Tate thing coming” in the aftermath of the loss.

Tate would remain retired until making a comeback five years later.

Although a return win over Marion Reneau immediately put the American back into the title mix at 135 pounds, she’s since struggled, losing three of her last four fights.