"I manifested that" - Former UFC women's bantamweight champion shares startling insight on rivalry that changed Dana White's view on women's MMA

A former UFC women's bantamweight titleholder recounted Dana White's opinion regarding women's MMA. She shared a rather startling insight on the rivalry and fight she believes strongly persuaded White to let women compete in the UFC.

The fighter in question is ex-UFC women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate. On The Dylan Gemelli Podcast, 'Cupcake' recently alluded to being inspired by women's MMA pioneer Gina Carano. Tate asserted that Carano's main event matchup against Cris Cyborg, for the inaugural Strikeforce women's featherweight title in 2009, proved to be Strikeforce's most successful fight.

The 38-year-old recalled the first of her two fights against Ronda Rousey, with their first encounter headlining a Strikeforce card in March 2012. Tate acknowledged being crestfallen after losing her Strikeforce women's bantamweight title via first-round technical submission to Rousey. Nevertheless, she's now deemed it a tremendous victory for WMMA.

Underscoring that it changed Dana White's opinion of not wanting female fighters in the UFC, Tate stated:

"It wasn't long after that [Carano vs. Cyborg] that, of course, Dana White started getting the question. When are women going to be in the UFC? 'Never,' you know, he was like, 'I'll never let women in the UFC.' But it was my fight with Ronda that actually changed his mind. So, you know, back to that thought that I had some years before that. It ended up coming true. And I really feel like I manifested that."

"I didn't know Dana was going to be watching that fight. But I just poured my heart and soul into it, and granted I didn't come away with the win, it was a win for women in the sport of MMA. Even though it was a loss on my shoulders, I still was able to deliver in a powerful way, and have this rivalry with Ronda, and give her a good run for her money," he added.

Additionally, Tate indicated that the epic grudge match had everything one would want from a fight, adding that her not tapping despite suffering a dislocated arm reminded people how tough women could be. She startlingly explained that then-UFC president (now-UFC CEO and president) Dana White, who technically wasn't her boss back then, handed her a "big bonus" within a week.

Tate claimed that White told her women would be coming to the UFC -- which was huge, as it was rumored that the UFC eventually absorbing Strikeforce's roster could sideline female Strikeforce fighters.

Watch Miesha Tate's assessment below (47:22):

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UFC's Dana White-helmed Strikeforce takeover, impact of Ronda Rousey-Miesha Tate Strikeforce fight

The UFC acquired Strikeforce in 2011 and absorbed its fighters in 2013. The first-ever UFC women's fight saw Ronda Rousey defend her UFC women's bantamweight belt, submitting Liz Carmouche at UFC 157 in February 2013. 'Rowdy' later submitted Miesha Tate inside the octagon in December 2013. White and Tate have disagreed in the past, but he's often hailed her fights, including her clashes against Rousey.

In 2023, a UFC report chronicled the organization's women's divisions, emphasizing the Rousey-Tate Strikeforce showdown's key role in changing Dana White's mind. It also harked back to White famously comparing Miesha Tate's archnemesis -- Olympic bronze medalist Judoka and MMA great Ronda Rousey -- to UFC icon Chuck Liddell. White said:

"Ronda is the real deal. She's nasty. She's mean. She's like Chuck Liddell."