Saturday night in New York, former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate returned to the Octagon to fight Raquel Pennington, where she looked to return to the win column after losing her UFC women’s bantamweight championship to Amanda Nunes earlier this year at UFC 200.
Tate lost the fight against Pennington via unanimous decision, nearly getting submitted in the first round, before getting picked apart in the remaining two rounds. Following the fight, Tate was quick to announce her retirement in her post-fight Octagon interview, in which she explained that she had thought about possibly retiring after the fight, with the outcome of the fight playing a major role in her decision to call it a career.
Immediately, the MMA community took to Twitter to react to Tate’s historic career as a pioneer in WMMA, and a UFC champion.
"It's not my time anymore. It's the future's time." -Miesha Tate announces her retirement after facing Raquel Pennington at #UFC205. pic.twitter.com/4oZgx9vKDw
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 13, 2016
Respect @MieshaTate – thank you for your fights. #UFC205
advertisement – continue reading below— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) November 13, 2016
.@MieshaTate great career thank you for your scraps! #Respect
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) November 13, 2016
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Pretty great that @MieshaTate realized a UFC championship before walking away from MMA.
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) November 13, 2016
Wow, was joking around about the fight but truly will miss seeing @MieshaTate inside the octagon! #respect @ufc
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) November 13, 2016
.@MieshaTate! Respect. Thank you. #ufc205
— Coach (@CMPunk) November 13, 2016
Thank you for the memories Champ! @MieshaTate
— #UFC205 (@bjpenndotcom) November 13, 2016
Retirement!!!???? If this is true thanks you for everything that you have done for the sport and influence in women's MMA
— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) November 13, 2016
@MieshaTate congrats on a great career. Bummed to see you retire but I hope you do what makes you happy next #ufc205
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) November 13, 2016
Hats off to @MieshaTate also announcing her retirement tonight!
— KailinCurran (@KailinCurran) November 13, 2016