10 Precise Moments UFC Careers Ended

9. Tate Loses To Pennington

A popular figure throughout women's MMA's rise to prominence and perhaps Ronda Rousey's greatest rival, Miesha Tate's UFC career didn't truly take off until 'Rowdy' had fallen.

Tate was never likely to taste gold while Rousey was on top, but profited from her loss to Holly Holm. Riding a four-fight winning streak, Tate faced the new UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion at UFC 196, showing incredible resilience to put Holm away with a fifth-round rear-naked choke. Tate was finally number one after nine years in the sport, but it wasn't to last. Amanda Nunes tapped her out in her first defence, and four months later, Miesha would fall again - this time to the gutsy Raquel Pennington.

It wasn't the first 0-2 skid of Tate's career, but it prompted her to spring an unplanned retirement in her post-fight interview. The penny dropped midway through the bout. In defeat, Tate recognised that the game had passed her by, and that it was no longer her time, despite becoming champion just eight months prior. Full credit to her for escaping this difficult, unforgiving sport on her own terms.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.