Team Tate explains why Holly Holm didn’t get a UFC 200 rematch

It came as a surprise to some that Miesha Tate will be defending her UFC women’s bantamweight championship against Amanda Nunes instead of Holly Holm at UFC 200.

Tate submitted Holm in the fifth round at UFC 196 to win the title in a tightly contested battle.

According to Tate’s manager, Josh Jones, a rematch with Holm was never on the table.

“A fight with Holly Holm was never discussed when we met with the UFC," Jones said to MMA Fighting. "We all agreed that Miesha should fight the best available, and at this time it's Amanda Nunes, who is currently on a three-fight win streak."

Nunes also fought at UFC 196 and defeated Valentina Shevchenko by unanimous decision for her third consecutive victory after being stopped by Cat Zingano in 2014.

“I think it really boils down to the fact that Holly Holm wasn’t a long-reigning champion,” Tate said on Fox Sports Live. “She lost the belt in her first defense and it’s not like I was getting crushed on the feet. She was edging me three rounds. The second round was a 10-8 round and I finished her in the fifth. I’m looking to fight someone new that I haven’t beat yet, and I think Amanda, with her win streak and having all that momentum, says more than beating Holly again.”

Tate did say she’d be interested in giving Holm a rematch as long as Holm gets another win under her belt. Should Tate get past Nunes, her next order of business would be a third fight with Ronda Rousey, who plans to return from her yearlong hiatus later this year.

“I sure hope so,” Tate said. “I feel like I have unfinished business there.”

As for Holm, she hasn’t been scheduled to fight. Her manager, Lenny Fresquez, said he was “very disappointed” with Tate opting for Nunes. He said Holm deserved a rematch, considering she was ahead on the scorecards going into the final round. He also said the opportunity to fight for the title should be reciprocated because Holm gave Tate the fight although Holm could have sat on the sidelines and waited for a rematch with Rousey.

“ After all the trouble Miesha had getting a title fight, we gave her the opportunity,” Fresquez said. “We feel like she took the easy way out, she took the easier fight."