Sherdog’s Top 10: UFC Plans Gone Awry

5. Miesha Tate Dethrones Holly Holm

Holm served up the UFC’s golden goose just in time for Christmas with her vicious head kick knockout on Ronda Rousey. While “The Preacher’s Daughter” does not appear to be particularly comfortable in the spotlight, the UFC still had an unbeaten champion on its hands -- and perhaps something special.

With Rousey convalescing on the sidelines, Holm wanted to fight again. UFC matchmakers opted to have the Jackson-Wink MMA rep defend her title against Tate in the UFC 196 co-main event on March 5, 2016 in Las Vegas. Tate had already lost twice to Rousey and did not want to see history repeat itself against the new champion. “Cupcake” was behind on the scorecards entering the fifth round, despite nearly submitting Holm in the second. Sensing the title slipping from her grasp yet again, Tate made her move. A mad scramble led her to Holm’s back, where she cinched a rear-naked choke and put the New Mexico native to sleep. With that, a Holm-Rousey rematch went up in smoke, at least for now.

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