Holly Holm seeks UFC 300 return, manager claims Miesha Tate turned down fight three times

December 27, 2023 6:00 pm ET

Although the stars appear perfectly aligned for Holly Holm and Miesha Tate to finally have their rematch, it doesn’t appear it’s going to happen.

With Holm (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) coming off a no contest result vs. Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC on ESPN 49 in July and Tate (20-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) recently removed from a third-round submission of Julia Avila at UFC on ESPN 52 in December, both women are in logical position to run it back.

Holm’s team, JacksonWink MMA in Albuquerque, posted on social media this week stating “The Preacher’s Daughter” was targeting a return to the octagon at UFC 300, which takes place April 13 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and Tate was the ideal opponent.

According to Holm’s longtime manager Lenny Fresquez, however, the interest is not mutual, and he told MMA Junkie on Wednesday that Tate has a repeat history of declining a rematch with his client.

“She wants nothing to do with Holly,” Fresquez said. “She’s turned down the fight three times already. We are looking for someone tougher.”

Tate, 37, defeated Holm, 42, by fifth-round submission at UFC 196 in March 2016 to capture the women’s bantamweight title. She was trailing in the fight, but managed to score a spectacular finish to claim gold and end Holm’s unbeaten run in MMA.

“Cupcake” told MMA Fighting this month that she was warm to the idea of a rematch with Holm at UFC 300.

“I think it’s a great time,” Tate said. “I think that sounds reasonable. I did I get a little bit of an injury leaving that fight. So I’ve got to get an MRI and check myself out just make sure. But it’s not very severe … I’ve been walking around, and I think I’m actually all right. I think I’ll be OK. So if I can do that, then I think Holly would be a fantastic one.”

Fresquez’s claims indicate Tate is not on the table for the next fight, though, but nothing has been determined with full certainty. The ideal timeline for Holm to fight would be at UFC 300, but her place on the card, nor an opponent, has been solidified.

“We are hopeful we will be on UFC 300,” Fresquez said. “No opponents have been brought up yet.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

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