UFC 196 featured one of the biggest fights in MMA history but the classic co-main event is often overlooked for this reason.
On this day (March 5) in 2016, Nate Diaz shocked the world by submitting Conor McGregor in one of the single most significant wins to have ever taken place inside the Octagon.
The co-main event pitted the recently crowned women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm taking on former challenger Miesha Tate at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Both women have gone their separate ways with Tate recently announcing her own UFC return following long period of inactivity.
As for ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’, she remained a staple of the 135-pound division before Holm was recently drafted by the GFL.
Miesha Tate won the bantamweight title with a clutch submission over Holly Holm
After missing out on winning the bantamweight title in her first attempt against Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate rebuilt herself with a four-fight win streak.
Her hopes of securing another shot seemed unlikely whilst ‘Rowdy’ was at the top but all of that changed in an instant at UFC 193 the previous summer where Holly Holm dropped jaws all around the world when she knocked Rousey out with a head kick.
Holm’s first title defense was booked for UFC 196 in Las Vegas where as we had seen in her title-winning performance, her speed, footwork and kickboxing kept her opponent stuck on the outside throughout the first round.
Tate was able to swing the momentum in the second by securing her first takedown where she not only dominated the round but threated with multiple submission attempts.
It was always going to be a battle of which fighter can dictate where the contest takes place and for the following two rounds, the champion had the final say as she danced around Tate as the cleaner striker.
Tate was under no illusions heading into the fifth round, she needed a finish in order to leave with the bantamweight title and when she saw an opportunity, she gave it everything she had.
The superior grappler managed to grab hold of the champion to force a scramble, take her back and with 90 seconds left on the clock, choke Holm completely unconscious.
All three judges had the fight scored at 38-37 in favor of Holm going into the fifth round, meaning that due to the 10-8 she scored in the second, Tate winning the final round of the fight would’ve resulted in a draw.
In the end, she perfectly capitalized on her moments, securing a 10-8 round and then a finish off the back of just 2 successful takedowns.
In her post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Tate spoke about her mindset going into the fifth round and the respect that she has for Holm.
“I knew I had to finish the fight. I had to find that perfect time. I had to be perfect in the fifth round. I was patient in those other rounds and it’s like, she edged me out in those, a few of those rounds if not three so I knew the fifth round was important.
“She’s got a lot of heart, I mean not many people wouldn’t tap out. She went out like a champion, I have so much respect for this woman and I just thank her so much for stepping in here tonight and giving me everything she had.”
Miesha Tate’s next challenge was already decided
Miesha Tate achieved the highlight of her career at UFC 296 but her reign as the bantamweight champion would ultimately be short-lived.
On that very same night in the main card opener, Amanda Nunes defeated Valentina Shevchenko via a unanimous decision to take her claim as the next in line for a title shot.
They were later matched up for UFC 300 several months later and following one of the most dramatic builds to a card in UFC history, they ended up in the main event spotlight.
With a devastating performance to win the title, Nunes used this moment to announce herself as a star in what was clearly a passing of the torch moment.