Miesha Tate announces retirement after UFC 205 loss

TOUGH NIGHT. Miesha Tate (bottom) loses her second straight fight after being pummelled by Raquel Pennington. Tate announced her retirement shortly after. Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines - Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate bid an unexpected farewell to fighting after losing a decision to Raquel Pennington at UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday, November 12 (Sunday Manila time).

Tate, 30, appeared sluggish throughout against Pennington, two years her junior. Pennington outjabbed Tate and stuffed enough takedown attempts to earn the win by the scores of 29-28 on one card and 30-27 on the other two.

"I'm announcing my retirement you guys. I love ya'll so much, I've been doing this for over a decade. Thank you so much for being here," Tate said immediately after the fight.

"I love this sport forever but it's not my time anymore. It's the future's time."

Tate, a tough Brazilian Jiu Jitsu purple belt from Tacoma, Washington, had won the world title after choking out Holly Holm at UFC 196 in March but quickly dropped it to Amanda Nunes at UFC 200 in July via the same outcome. Tate first made her mark in Strikeforce in 2008, becoming women's champion before losing to Ronda Rousey in 2012 in what was one of women's MMA's first high-profile fights. She'd lose a rematch the following year at UFC 168, also by arm-bar submission.

Tate, known as "Cupcake" would win her next 5 straight en route to a championship win before losing two straight and announcing her retirement.

Tate's mixed martial arts record stands at 18-7. – Rappler.com