Miesha Theresa Tate Bio
Miesha Theresa Tate, widely known by her nickname “Cupcake,” is an American professional mixed martial artist born on August 18, 1986, in Tacoma, Washington. She currently competes in the women’s bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and is a former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion. Tate also formerly competed for Strikeforce, where she held the Women’s Bantamweight Championship, and briefly served as vice president of ONE Championship. As of May 6, 2025, she is ranked No. 13 in the UFC women’s bantamweight rankings.
Early Life and Background
Miesha Theresa Tate was born in Tacoma, Washington, to Michelle Tate and was raised by her mother and stepfather, Robert Schmidt. A self-described tomboy during her youth, she often socialized with boys in her neighborhood and developed a competitive streak early on. While attending Franklin Pierce High School, she chose amateur wrestling over basketball, wrestling on the boys’ team from her freshman year through graduation. The transition was difficult, and Tate later recalled that she “got her butt kicked pretty hard for the first few weeks” before finding her footing in the sport.
During her senior year in 2005, Tate competed in the girls’ state wrestling championship and won the title, cementing her foundation as a grappler. After high school, she enrolled at Central Washington University, where a friend encouraged her to attend the campus mixed martial arts club. Surrounded by fellow wrestlers, she fit in immediately and began cross-training in striking and submissions, which paved the way for her transition into professional MMA.
Path to MMA
Tate’s amateur MMA career began in March 2006 when she accepted a bout against Muay Thai specialist Elizabeth Posener. Although she was bloodied by a knee in the second round, she mounted a strong comeback before her corner stopped the fight. She compiled a 5-1 amateur record before turning professional. In November 2007, Tate made her professional debut at the HOOKnSHOOT Women’s Grand Prix, defeating Jan Finney by decision before being stopped later in the night by Kaitlin Young.
Throughout 2008 and 2009, Tate built her resume on the regional circuit, fighting for promotions such as CageSport MMA, Freestyle Cage Fighting, and Atlas Fights. In April 2009, she captured the FCF Women’s Bantamweight Championship by submitting Liz Carreiro, and she successfully defended the title in January 2010. These early performances on smaller stages caught the attention of major promotions and set the stage for her leap to Strikeforce.
Miesha Theresa Tate Career
Early Career (2007-2009)
Tate debuted in Strikeforce on June 27, 2008, defeating Elaina Maxwell by unanimous decision at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson. The win established her as a rising talent in the 135-pound bantamweight division. Shortly after, she suffered her first Strikeforce loss to Sarah Kaufman, a setback that motivated her to sharpen her overall game.
Bouncing back quickly, Tate submitted Zoila Gurgel via armbar in March 2010 and later that year won the Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Tournament, defeating Maiju Kujala and Hitomi Akano in succession. Her grappling pedigree, built on years of competitive wrestling and growing Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills, was on full display during this run and signaled that she was ready for a title opportunity.
Strikeforce Championship Run (2011-2012)
Tate earned her shot at the Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Championship on July 30, 2011, against Marloes Coenen. Despite a tough training camp, she submitted Coenen with an arm-triangle choke in the fourth round, becoming the new champion and the first woman to ever submit Coenen in an MMA bout. The victory earned her widespread recognition as one of the top pound-for-pound female fighters in the world.
Her first title defense came against Ronda Rousey on March 3, 2012, in a fight that became a then-rare main event featuring women on an MMA card. After escaping Rousey’s first armbar attempt, Tate eventually fell to a second armbar late in the first round. She rebounded later that year with a third-round armbar submission of Julie Kedzie, demonstrating her resilience and continued development as a finisher.
UFC Breakthrough (2013-2016)
Following Strikeforce’s closure, Tate joined the UFC in February 2013, with company president Dana White crediting her rivalry with Rousey for helping bring women’s MMA to the promotion. She faced Cat Zingano at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale, losing a back-and-forth fight in the final round by TKO in a bout that earned both women Fight of the Night honors. She was then tapped to replace Zingano as opposing coach on The Ultimate Fighter 18 and faced Rousey in a rematch at UFC 168, again losing by third-round armbar.
After dropping her first two UFC appearances, Tate put together a run that elevated her back into title contention. She defeated Liz Carmouche and Rin Nakai by unanimous decision before out-grappling Olympic medalist Sara McMann at UFC 183 in January 2015 to win by majority decision. Following Holly Holm’s stunning upset of Rousey in November 2015, Tate was matched with Holm at UFC 196 in March 2016, where she submitted Holm with a rear-naked choke in the fifth round to capture the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship. Her reign was short-lived, however, as Amanda Nunes finished her via first-round rear-naked choke at UFC 200. After a unanimous decision loss to Raquel Pennington at UFC 205 in November 2016, Tate announced her retirement from MMA.
UFC Return (2021-Present)
On March 24, 2021, Tate announced her return to competition, defeating Marion Reneau via third-round TKO at UFC on ESPN: Makhachev vs. Moisés and earning a Performance of the Night bonus. A scheduled bout with Ketlen Vieira was postponed after Tate tested positive for COVID-19, and the eventual fight at UFC Fight Night 198 ended in a unanimous decision loss for Tate.
In 2022, Tate moved down to flyweight and dropped a unanimous decision to Lauren Murphy at UFC on ABC 3. An injury forced her out of a June 2023 booking, but she returned at UFC on ESPN 52 in December 2023, submitting Julia Avila via rear-naked choke in the third round to pick up another Performance of the Night award. On May 3, 2025, she faced Yana Santos at UFC on ESPN 67 and lost by unanimous decision.
Driving Style and Strengths
Tate is widely regarded for her extensive knowledge of grappling arts, including wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and submission defense. Her double-leg takedowns, typically executed by pressing opponents against the cage, set up a punishing top game built around side control and body-triangle control. She is also noted for being the first fighter to repeatedly escape Ronda Rousey’s armbar attempts, and she has showcased a varied submission arsenal that includes armbars, triangle chokes, heel hooks, and kimura locks.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Tate’s most memorable moments are her fifth-round submission of Holly Holm to capture the UFC title, her 2016 induction into the public eye as a mainstream crossover star, and her first-round submission of Marloes Coenen to claim Strikeforce gold. She also made history in 2022 by winning the third season of Celebrity Big Brother, claiming four Head of Household competitions along the way.
Miesha Theresa Tate Career Wins
Tate has compiled a professional record of 20 wins and 10 losses, with victories distributed across decisions, knockouts, and submissions. She has captured major championships in two of the sport’s premier organizations, cementing her place among the most accomplished female bantamweights in MMA history.
Strikeforce and UFC Highlights
Tate’s most significant victories include her submission of Marloes Coenen for the Strikeforce title in 2011 and her fifth-round rear-naked choke win over Holly Holm at UFC 196 in 2016 to claim the UFC bantamweight crown. She has also earned notable decision wins over Sara McMann, Jessica Eye, Liz Carmouche, and Rin Nakai, showcasing her ability to grind out victories against high-caliber opposition.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond her championship runs, Tate captured the FCF Women’s Bantamweight Championship in 2009 and defended it successfully in early 2010. Her wins in regional promotions such as CageSport MMA, Freestyle Cage Fighting, and Atlas Fights helped establish her grappling-based style before she reached the global stage.
Miesha Theresa Tate Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Tate was raised by her mother, Michelle Tate, and her stepfather, Robert Schmidt, in Tacoma, Washington. Her family environment encouraged toughness and athleticism, traits that helped her thrive when she began competing against boys in youth sports.
Personal Life
Tate attended Central Washington University, where she met her former boyfriend, fellow fighter Bryan Caraway. On January 1, 2018, she announced that she was in a relationship with MMA fighter Johnny Nuñez, and the couple welcomed daughter Amaia Nevaeh Nuñez in June 2018 and son Daxton Wylder Nuñez in June 2020. A Seattle Seahawks fan, Tate has also been involved in media, co-hosting the Sirius XM show Throwing Down With Renee and Miesha with Renee Paquette beginning in September 2021.
2025 Season Performance
Tate began 2025 ranked inside the UFC women’s bantamweight top 15, continuing her late-career resurgence as a fan-favorite veteran. On May 3, 2025, she faced Yana Santos at UFC on ESPN 67, ultimately dropping a unanimous decision that halted her recent momentum. The loss placed her at No. 13 in the official UFC women’s bantamweight rankings as of May 6, 2025.
Despite the setback against Santos, Tate’s performance in 2025 underscored her durability and willingness to face top competition well into her late thirties. With more than two decades of MMA experience and a championship pedigree across two major organizations, she remains a respected name in the bantamweight division.
Looking ahead, Tate is expected to continue competing in the bantamweight division while training out of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. Her combination of grappling experience, veteran savvy, and finishing ability keeps her in the mix for high-profile matchups as the 2025 season progresses.