The last two women’s bantamweight champions to enter the Octagon left without their gold, current title holder Miesha Tate plans to buck that trend when she defends her strap against Amanda Nunes in the third to last fight at UFC 200.

Tate has gained a reputation for being someone that can battle against adversity over the course of a fight.  She did it in her majority decision victory over Sara McMann and even more famously in her title winning fifth round TKO victory over Holly Holm.  In the championship bout, she needed the final round finish to capture the title and with only a 1:30 on the clock she was successful.  

The Tacoma, Washington native now wants to be known as that and more.

“I think I’m definitely battle tested and I’ve proven that I have a great mindset and a lot of great skills that I bring to the table,” Tate said on a UFC conference call.  “I know, no matter where these fights go I’ll be prepared, that’s what I train to do every time that I fight.”

“I’m prepared to go all five rounds if necessary.  I’m hoping to get these finishes out there faster and faster each time, that’s my goal.”

Tate’s UFC 200 opponent Amanda Nunes is on a three fight winning streak and hasn’t been finished since losing via third round TKO to Cat Zingano in September of 2014.  However, she also hasn’t faced the spotlight pressure that she will have in this title fight, pressure that Tate feels only strengthens her position in this bout.

“I’ve fought on really big cards before, groundbreaking cards like when Anderson Silva fought Chris Weidman, I was the co-main event on that card (UFC 168),” said Tate. “I’ve had some amazing opportunities to fight alongside some of the greatest fighters in the world, so this will be just another day in the office for me; this is something I’m completely used to.”

“I’m used to the media pressure.  I’m used to everything that goes with this, there are no surprises I’m well prepared for everything that I anticipate will happen.”

There have also been questions as to why Tate’s first title defence will be against Nunes, who enters on a worthy three-fight winning streak, instead of former champion Holm, who many people would like to see her rematch after their UFC 196 classic.  Tate says she does not choose fights and is only facing the fighter that the promotion put in front of her.

“I took this fight because the UFC called me up and asked me if I would fight and I said yeah, it’s as simple as that, there was no mention of any other names, Ronda (Rousey) was clearly not ready to fight and I don’ t know why they didn’t have me fight Holly (Holm),” said Tate.  

“There are speculations about her management and them not being on the greatest terms with the UFC, I don’t know that, I can’t comment, but I wasn’t asked for any other fights than Amanda, I’m not the matchmaker, they have a matchmaker for a reason.”

A member of the media on the conference call attempted to ask Tate about a possible future matchup with Rousey, but the 29-year-old was not having any of that, cutting off the question before it was even fully asked.

“I can just stop you right there, because there is no way I’m looking past this fight with Amanda, I just can’t afford to do that, I’ve been seeing that a lot of people are losing titles quickly and focusing on things they don’t need to be and I refuse to make that mistake,” said Tate.

“I didn’t get here by overlooking opponents and Amanda is a very tough opponent.  I think she’s beatable but she’s where she’s at because she’s hungry, she really wants this, she’s on a win streak and I’ve prepared everything I have to beat the best Amanda Nunes that’s going to come on July 9th.  The only thing that I care to talk about or be focused on is Amanda Nunes and that’s it.”

Tate knows what’s at stake for her to win the fight and keep the position at the top that she fought so hard to attain in the first place and she feels very comfortable in that position.

“I’m here and I like the pressure that’s put on me because I know I perform the best under this kind of pressure,” said Tate.  “Everyone seems to think I’m going to win this fight which adds a lot more pressure.  Other people don’t do well with that pressure, they just want to fight, they don’t want to have to deal with the media.  I’m here to do all of it and show that I’m the best in the world.”