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Miesha Tate

Strikeforce Fighter, Miesha "Take Down" Tate talks with NWFS about the injury that forced her out of this Sat's Strikeforce Women's 135 lb World Championship fight with Marloes Coenen. Tate also gives her opinion on how the fight will go with Coenen and Tate's replacement, Liz Carmouche...

NW Fightscene: You got injured and had to pull out of this fight. What happened?
Miesha Tate: Basically I was wrestling a guy a little bigger than me. I think he's about 165 which is about my cap, because I've always had bad luck with people bigger that that getting hurt. But basically he went to shoot a double leg, I sprawled on the double leg, he continued to drive forward but he transitioned down into a low ankle pick. So he grabbed my ankle and his forehead kind of went right where my knee is and he drove through. My knee went out one way and the rest of my body went out the other way. And I just felt a real loud pop in my knee and was in a lot of pain. And that was about it.

NWFS: When it happened, what were you thinking? Go see a doctor right away or maybe try to hide the injury so you can still take the fight?

Tate: Well, I didn't know how bad it really was, that's for sure. I know sometimes when you pop your knee, it hurts really bad at first but then in a couple days it's more like you just hurt your joint or you just popped it or it wasn't too serious. But it hurt even getting up. There was no way to hide it. I was in a lot of pain. I went straight into the office where we have a chiropractor and a massage therapist and they looked at it and wrapped it up in ice, and then I left. And I was really hoping it wasn't too serious. But then three, four, five days passed and I was still having trouble even extending it or bending it all the way. And I couldn't get any kind of lateral movement, no pivoting, any side to side was really painful. So I was still hoping that it was going to be OK but I was starting to have doubts by that point. I know that knees can be fast healing but the problem was that it was so close to the fight that I knew even if I was back to lets say 80 percent by the fight, I wasn't going to be able to train at 100 percent leading up to it or really at all. Honestly, for about 4 or 5 days there I couldn't do much of anything but hobble around.

NWFS: How hard was it to make that call to Strikeforce?
Tate: It was hard. I waited a little while because, like I said, I wasn't sure and I was still really being optimistic that I was going to be able to push through it. But as the days wore on and I knew where my training level needed to be - and I knew that it wasn't at that level - made me not confident in going on with the fight, not being at 100 percent. I knew I wasn't going to be at 100 percent when I fought Marloes. 

And I know you never go into a fight 100 percent but figuratively speaking. You might go in hurt with nicks and dings and bruises, but you should never go into a fight injured. Especially a world title fight. I want to be at my very best when I fight Marloes, so that I can not only win that fight but make a statement.

NWFS: What is your rehab time? Have you talked to your doctors and figured out  when you might be back?
Tate: They told me it was about a 4 to 6 week injury if I take everything the way that I'm supposed to. They told me to really just stay off of it for at least two weeks and do the physical therapy. And then slowly start working back into a training schedule, but taking it easy as I do so. So I'm just trying to keep ice on it, as much as they tell me to. Do everything the way doctors are saying I need to in order to get back on the fast track. Because I'm really eager and I'm kind of going stir-crazy here. I was really excited for this fight March 5th and I've been kind of shelved until August. Its really frustrating for me because I like to stay busy. It feels like as you work your way to the top, you get to fight less and less. And then when something like this happen, it just seems like forever and a day since I've been in the cage.

NWFS: What's that like for you? Training, training, and then Bam!, you cant fight.
Tate: I was really depressed there for a little bit, especially when it all got announced because then I knew it was officially known. It sounds dumb but I still kind of had my hopes up. I don't know what I was thinking but I just so badly wanted to get in there and mix it up. It was just kind of heartbreaking to me. But I had a lot of really awesome people, friends and fans... I was absent off of facebook and twitter for a few days and when I hopped back on there, there were a lot of people telling me 'you know its all good, it happens' 'Just keep your chin up' and 'do what you need to do to be 100 percent'. 'We're still behind you and we look forward to you coming back and winning the title'. And it lifted my spirits. I just got to think that everything happens for a reason. I'm still in contention for the title. Its just going to be pushed back. I just got to make the most of it & continue working.

NWFS: It sounds like Strikeforce is being supportive and that you'll still be in contention, once you heal.
Tate: From what I understand, yes. Because its out my control at this point. I believe I'll be set to face the winner of Carmouche & Coenen. I don't know when actually. But whenever they get around to us again, I think it'll be me and the winner.

NWFS: What are your thoughts on the fight between your replacement Liz Carmouche and Marloes Coenen this Saturday?
Tate: To be honest, I really don't think that Carmouche stands much of a chance. Stylistically I think she has a lot of potential but I don't think she's reached it yet. I think she could be a tough fight for Marloes, but on short notice and with the lack of experience, I don't think its going to add up too well for Carmouche. I think its going to end in an armbar, in probably the 2nd round. I figure they're going to strike a little in the first round and Carmouche is probably going to eat some hard punches, decide she doesn't like it, & take Marloes down and get caught in a sub.

NWFS: Any shoutouts you want to give to your NW fans and supporters?
Tate: Yeah, thank you so much for having my back. For a little while there, I felt like I let everyone down. Maybe I should of just tried to push through it, but after rethinking it and considering it, I know that I only have one body and I got to really take care of it. Plus I think all you guys want me to be at 100 percent anyways. So I definitely just appreciate that support and backing. Thank you all for that.

And I hope to be back in action in no time.

NW Fightscene would like thank Miesha for taking the time for this interview.

Fans can find her online at takedowntate.com and on Twitter @MieshaTate.