Kingdom MMA Roundtable on the talking points from the Tate vs Zingano fight

Kingdom MMA discuss the potential controversy from Saturday nights women's no 1 contender contest

by Ben Heather @benheather

Since Saturday night it seems that everyone who saw the Miesha Tate vs Cat Zingano fight this weekend at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale has been debating some talking points from the fight. So now the guys at Kingdom MMA will throw our opinions in to the hat for you all to read.

Was the fight stopped Early?

Chris: For well over a year its seems the standing joke amongst MMA fans on twitter is that Kim Wimslow is going to end up letting someone die in the cage, with her late stoppages. While this is a gross over exaggeration, you have to admit she has put some fighters in serious danger since her debut. Controversy is never far away in a Wimslow officiated fight, and it appears this fight was no exception.

I've seen a lot of people talk about an illegal knee, the fight was stopped too soon etc. but to be honest I think Wimslow did a pretty good job in this one, in fact one could argue she would have been justified to stop the fight before Tate even stood up - from my point of view Tate certainly wasn't fighting back or intelligently defending herself.

John: When I watched the fight live I thought it was stopped early but after watching it a few more times I think the stoppage came at the correct time. Tate had just eaten four well placed knees followed by an elbow that dropped her against the cage. I think she was one shot away from lights out.

Ben: If I am honest I thought at the time that Tate was taking punishment which she did not need to take at the end of the fight and not wisely protecting herself. When she took the four consecutive knees to the head that ended the fight as a battle and could have been stopped then. By the time the elbow came in Tate did not know where she was.

Watching the fight back..... A LOT, there is no way that Tate was going for a take down. She dropped and put her hands on the floor. She didn't drop and grab Cat's legs and at that point Kim Wimslow saved Tate from any further punishment.

Were the knees legal at the end of the fight?

Chris: While I would have been happy for the fight to be stopped on the ground, when Tate managed to get up the first knee that landed certainly did look illegal. That being said I don't think there was any malicious intent there, and realistically the damage was already done. Personally I would be keen for a review of the definition of a downed opponent - a finger on the floor does not make you a downed opponent if you ask me.

Ben: The opinion I take on this is that if it was illegal it was so close that you can't blame Kim Wimslow for letting the fight continue. If it was such a big talking point and as controversial as some people on the Internet have been making it out to be, then why didn't Jon Anik and Kenny Florian mention it.... at all!! The answer is because in my opinion there is nothing to discuss.

John: I think the first one was, just. Tate was just about to stand up as Zingano was throwing the first knee. Its not like Tate was trying to stay a downed opponent she was fighting her way back to a stand up position.

What you thought of Tate's conduct after rd 1. (Pushing Cat's face away)  

Ben: This to me was the most controversial moment of the whole fight and it seems to have been swept under the carpet. As far as I am concerned what Tate did was a punk move!! She had no reason to put her hands on Cat's face after the buzzer. I was backing Tate going in to this fight but as soon as she did that I wanted Cat to make her pay and was pleased when she got the TKO finish in the third.

John: No matter what people say before or during a fight, if you like the person you are fighting or not you should never put your hands on an opponent in between rounds or after the fight. You are martial artists who do this as a job and not some drunken yobs fighting on a night out, LEARN SOME RESPECT.

Chris: Someone needs to explain the whole martial artist = respect thing to the Tate / Caraway family. From Tate pushing off Zingano's face to stand up, to Caraway promising violence on women his girlfriend can't beat, it's terrible behaviour and one can't help but feel they got what's coming to them.

Who wins the UFC Women's bantamweight title fight Cat or Ronda?

Chris: While Zingano certainly could have success on the feet against Rousey, I see the fight going just like all the other Rousey fights. Zingano proved she is good on the ground in the Tate fight but she did end up in a Tate armbar at one point in time, and although she managed to defend it and eventually escape, Rousey will take her arm home if Zingano allows her anywhere near it. Expect a ferocious few minutes of dirty boxing against the cage, followed by Rousey take down, Rousey armbar attempt, Rousey first round submission victory.

John: I think this is Rousey’s toughest opponent yet no doubt. I think Rousey will have to come out pressuring from the start and try and get her trade arm bar quick before Zingano gets going. Zingano over powers Rousey all day long, if she finds her range early Rousey’s in trouble. Remember Rousey nearly came unstuck against Liz Carmouche when she took her back and was really cranking on Rousey’s neck but couldn’t quite sink it in fully. Should be an interesting fight to watch.

Ben: Cat's heart and determination to get through some tough times in the first two rounds against Tate makes me think that she may be the first person to take Rousey to the second round.

However the way Rousey has dominated all opponents and even though they all know and I imagine trained non stop on preventing and getting out of armbars she has still locked on and got the tap. I can't see anyone taking the belt away from Ronda anytime soon.

In the end somebody will be picking up that first career loss and if the women's fights in the UFC have been anything to go by so far, what I can guarantee is that it will be an absolute war.