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There probably wasn't anyone happier than Miesha Tate after Holly Holm knocked out Ronda Rousey and dethroned "Rowdy" from the top of the women's bantamweight ladder at UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia.
Though she admits to FOX Sports that her emotions got the best of her, she isn't apologizing for letting out all of the pent-up excitement that's been building up during her longstanding rivalry with the ex-champ. And now that Rousey is out of the picture -- for now -- Tate is making her case to receive her long-awaited shot at the strap.
Her argument:
"Here's why I think the fight with Holly and I makes sense: for one, I haven't ever fought Holly before. For two, I was Ronda's biggest challenge until Holly so obviously I've proven that I'm a standout in the division and so is Holly. If Holly would beat me, then they could still set up that great rematch that they want between her and Ronda. If I beat Holly then I'm 5-0 and I beat the girl who beat Ronda, what better case could they ever make to have me fight Ronda again? I think that fight sells itself."
Admitting it was tough seeing Holm be the one to dethrone Ronda and not her, Tate feels there should be no question as to who the No. 1 contender is.
Especially since there is no telling when Rousey will return to the cage.
"The only reason I didn't get that title shot was because I had fought Ronda twice already. That was it. Other than that, I am the No. 1 contender. I've been the No. 1 contender and I worked my ass off to get to be the No. 1 contender. In my mind, I think this fight should go to me in the mean time in maybe three months and then as Ronda's filming her movie and getting what she needs to get to recover. I think for Ronda's first fight back, if she wants it to be a title shot, I think that it should be because I think she's earned that. The thing is she's going to be out too long and I'm ready to go and I think Holly's ready to go so let's set it up in the mean time. When Ronda comes back she'll have a quality champion to face."
So how does Tate plan on getting the job done against Holm should she get the call?
For starters, she won't be "quite as desperate to run in like a bull chasing a matador" against an established boxer like "Preacher's Daughter." Speaking of boxing, while Tate won't go as far to say she's a better striker than Holly, she does feel very "comfortable" in the stand-up department.
But will she have better luck against the former pugilist than Rousey did?