UFC Fight Night ‘Hunt vs. Nelson’ Preview

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Women’s Bantamweights

Miesha Tate (14-5, 1-2 UFC) vs. Rin Nakai (16-0-1, 0-0 UFC)

The Matchup: Former top contender Tate looks to continue her winning ways against newly signed Japanese star Nakai. Tate took a lackluster decision from Liz Carmouche in five months ago after losing to Ronda Rousey for a second time in December, while Nakai hopes to parlay her popularity in Japan into a nice run in the UFC.

Nakai employs a great deal of movement and a consistent barrage of kicks at range. She keeps her chin too high, however, and has a distinct tendency to retreat in straight lines, while her boxing game is limited at best. The clinch is a strong point, as Nakai’s lack of height -- she stands 5-foot-1 -- allows her to maintain excellent head pressure and leverage while throwing solid knees; her wrestling is generally solid, both offensively and defensively. The best part of her game consists of her quick transitions to dominant positions on the ground. Nakai has the tools to be competitive at 135 pounds in the UFC, though her lack of size and average-at-best athleticism puts a hard ceiling on her potential.

Unless she goes on a big run, there is little chance Tate will get another shot at Rousey, but she is still a fine fighter at 135. The core of her game is her diverse arsenal of takedowns, which consists of singles, doubles and trips. Although she lacks a particularly explosive shot and her technique is not perfect, she is relentless and chains together her takedown attempts nicely. Once the fight hits the mat, Tate shows consistent ground striking, guard passing and good control while still taking chances on topside submissions. Nobody will confuse Tate with a high-level kickboxer on the feet, but she is game, durable and willing to throw down in exchanges.

Betting Odds: N/A

The Pick: Unless Tate has completely fallen off her game, and I see no reason to believe that is the case, she should take this one handily. Tate’s aggression gets her in trouble against more skilled competition, but Nakai has little to offer moving backwards. The fact that she struggled when pushed up against the ropes in a ring bodes even more poorly in a cage, and Tate excels in that kind of fight. Tate by unanimous decision is the pick.

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