Miesha Tate moves into the Marketability Top Spot of Women's MMA

Miesha Tate submitted Marloes Coenen with a gorgeous arm triangle choke July 30 in the co-main event of the Strikeforce card to earn the Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Championship Belt. With the win, Tate clearly moves past Gina Carano as the face of women’s mixed martial arts and instantly becomes one of the world’s most marketable athletes. Here are five reasons why Tate’s marketability is on the rise.

Ring girls for San Jose based mixed martial arts promotion Strikeforce pose for the media at the ‘Diaz vs. Cyborg’ weigh-ins on Friday, January 28th 2011.
Jon Swenson/InPhotography.com

Personality

Tate, 24, is a ferocious fighter inside the cage, but has a warm, mild-mannered demeanor outside of it. She is relatable to the American public because she speaks fluent English and constantly engages with fans via social media websites like Twitter and Facebook. Tate’s recent accomplishments came on the heels of a devastating knee injury, which also makes her story very inspirational.

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Talent

Tate has all the charm and charisma in the world, but having the talent to back it up is what will push her to the next level of stardom. She hasn’t lost in over two years and seems to be getting better with every fight. Tate’s standup game is constantly improving and her trademark takedowns are more fluid than ever. Her win over Coenen means that she will get the chance to defend her title against Sarah Kaufman, a tough contender who beat her once already in 2009.

Appearance

While there’s plenty more to women’s MMA than just sex appeal, having good looks certainly doesn’t hurt in drawing new fans to the sport. Tate is undeniably attractive, and she has used her model-like appearance to her advantage throughout her career. In 2009, Tate posed for Fight! magazine and she was also named a Maxim Top 100 Beauty.

Carano M.I.A.

Gina Carano will likely get back in the ring someday, but she is currentlypursuing a career in acting. In Carano’s absence, Tate instantly becomes the most recognizable female Strikeforce champion and a huge drawing card. Tate’s fights are exciting and action-packed, which serves well in bringing in casual fans.

Image

Tate has never gotten into trouble with the law and her squeaky clean image is perfect for gaining endorsements. Combat sports are on the rise and Tate can easily become the poster girl for mixed martial arts. She has all the tools to become a role model for young girls who hope to get into the sport someday.