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ROUNDTABLE: Predictions for UFC on Fox 16's Miesha Tate vs. Jessica Eye co-main event
Jul 24, 2015 - 4:05:58 PM ROUNDTABLE: Predictions for UFC on Fox 16's Miesha Tate vs. Jessica Eye co-main event

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Who wins the Miesha Tate vs. Jessica Eye bout at UFC on Fox 16, and how? Are you interested in seeing the winner get a shot at Ronda Rousey? If not, who would you put in against Rousey next (if Cyborg isn't an option) should she get past Bethe Correia?


MICHAEL BANE, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

It seems crazy that we're talking about Rousey vs. Tate 3 as a potential title match coming up given how truly noncompetitive the first two fights have been. After reviewing the wreckage that Rousey has left in the wake of her dominant run, there's a great argument to be made of facing her off against Tate again. Of course, if Jessica Eye is able to pull off the upset (according to rankings) win, it becomes a much easier decision, as Eye is at least a fresh face in a fight for the belt.

Although she's now "Cupcake," the fighter formerly known as "Takedown" has a strong wrestling game. This includes an impressive display on the ground when she out-grappled Olympic wrestler Sara McMann in a majority decision victory back in January. Her submission game is solid, and her submission defense is very good. While most of her victories have come by submission or just overwhelming her opponent and grinding it out, Tate's striking game has progressed decently enough to the point where she can use it to set up her double-leg takedown.

Jessica Eye is a elite striker in the Women's Bantamweight division, with great hand speed. She mixes up her punches well, and shows a nice boxing background with her footwork and head movement. Eye brings an impressive 11-2(1) record into the bout, and her only real loss in the past four years was a split decision dropped to Alexis Davis. Davis, if you'll recall, went on to get knocked out by Rousey in 16 seconds in her next fight. If Eye has her way, her match against Tate will be a stand-up affair in which she can pick Tate apart on the feet with her superior striking.

Unfortunately for Eye, Tate takes this fight by doing just enough on the feet to get the match to the ground. While Eye can strike at an elite level in her division, it's more variety and punches in bunches that she uses, as opposed to true power. Eye has three KO victories in her career (including her last fight), but it's unlikely she lands a hard enough shot to put Tate out. Tate gets the fight to the ground and controls the fight to a decision victory.

I'm not particularly interested in seeing Tate lose to Rousey for a third time. While Tate is a fine fighter, and legitimately one of the top in the division, I don't see another fight against Rousey going any differently, both the fight itself and the ultimate outcome, than the first two. Eye is more intriguing match up, just because she hasn't fought Rousey before, and because striking is supposedly Rousey's weakness (just tell that to Sara McMann and Alexis Davis). Eye's not going to have any more success than Tate or Davis though, and watching that fight would be more about seeing Ronda be the most dominating fighter in MMA as opposed to seeing if someone can take the belt from her.

If I'm booking the next fight, I'd make Rousey vs. Holm. While Eye is a great striker, the sell is more interesting when the fighter opposite Rousey is a former champion boxer. Holm also has a certain amount of hype around her, much better to use that while you can as opposed to burning her in a meaningless loss and removing her from the equation altogether. For the record, I'm saying Holm is a more interesting fight to think about, not that she has a chance to win, because she really doesn't. Eye is good enough to win another fight (assuming she were to beat Tate), and winning again can only help her cause both in promotion and in experience. If Eye is victorious on Saturday, it's likely she get the title shot as it makes sense from a rankings standpoint and timing standpoint. If Tate wins, the decision to put Holm in is that much easier, as the interest in seeing Tate get beaten up for a third time by the same person just isn't there.


DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK COLUMNIST

They [UFC] are fast running out of options, so I have no issue with either Tate or Eye facing Rousey next. I know we've seen Rousey vs. Tate and they don't normally do trilogy fights when one fighter has been so dominant, but this one has more meaning. The build-up to their last fight was entertaining and Tate actually faired better against Rousey than anyone else has. Holly Holm isn't ready yet and Cyborg won't be an option until she proves herself at 135 lbs, so to pass the time, the UFC is doing the right thing by making this a No 1. contender fight.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I think the winner would be as deserving as anyone else in the division to get beaten by Rousey. If Cyborg isn't the next to face Rousey, then I'm fine with either Tate or Eye stepping up and getting the shot. They might as well. No one in the division has an exceptionally strong case for the shot.


TOM STRONG, MMATORC UK CONTRIBUTOR

Miesha Tate's fighting style might not be pretty on the eye, (excuse the pun) but it's very effective and that makes her very tough to beat. Jessica Eye best chances of winning this fight is to keep the fight standing, use her superior boxing skills to keep Tate out of range and away from being taken down, if she can't do this and Tate can get in close make the fight ugly with her grappling I favour her to win, this is why I'm backing Tate to come away with the victory.

Miesha Tate fighting Ronda Rousey interests me more than any other fight at the moment with the exception of Cyborg which we all know is never going to happen. The UFC are force feeding Ronda opponents who are not in her league or ready yet, so another Tate fight who will at least push Ronda for a couple of rounds is better than seeing a ten second first round!

Prediction: Miesha Tate UD


DAYNE FOX, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Nobody in the women's bantamweight division is as resourceful as Tate. She has been a smart fighter ever since her second bout with Rousey (where she continued to run into the clinch with judo silver medalist) and I see no reason that she won't be able to find a way to outwork Eye and get the judges nod. While I think Eye is one tough chick, I don't think she should be in this position. Who is her best win? Leslie Smith, who isn't even ranked. In fact, she is her only UFC win. And don't give any crap about the Sarah Kaufman bout being turned into a no contest as I had Kaufman winning that fight in my book anyway.

I'm OK with Tate getting another one despite having two previous cracks at Rousey. Her rivalry with Rousey is still easy to market. I don't think Eye has done enough to earn a shot at the belt even with a win here... but I don't see another reasonable challenger meaning she would get it by default. Oh yeah, one more thing: WHEN Rousey gets past Correia. There is no if in that scenario.


RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Praying for a draw. I mean, either of these women getting a title shot would be the operational definition of "by default." I hope that Ronda takes an 11-month hiatus from fighting after she wipes the canvas with Bethe Correia's right arm (I'm predicting it down to the arm, man) to film three (more) shitty movies. At which time, Cyborg can cut the line, and Ronda can retire 13-0. There's literally no one I want to see other than Cyborg, but the contradiction is that I'll watch Rousey fight against literally anybody they put in front of her.