The co-main event of the Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson card will feature a welterweight title fight between the challenger Miesha Tate and champion Marloes Coenen. It should be a good fight and could be an important fight in regards to women’s MMA sticking around under the Zuffa umbrella. Let’s break it down:
Miesha Tate is coming into this fight with an overall record of (11-2) with 4 wins via submission and 3 wins via TKO/KO. Tate was supposed to fight Coenen earlier this year, but had to withdraw from the bout due to injury. She hasn’t fought since besting Hitomi Akano last August. Tate is an accomplished wrestler and is versed in submissions while training with Urijah Faber’s Team Alpha Male.
Marloes Coenen is coming into this fight with an overall record of (19-4) with 14 wins via submission and 3 via TKO/KO. Coenen was last seen defeating Liz Carmouche via submission after Tate pulled out of the original bout. Coenen trains with Team Golden Glory out of Holland and is well versed in submissions and has a decent striking game as well.
Bet on Fighting has the odds on this fight at (Even) for Tate and (-130) for Coenen.
This fight is interesting on many fronts, but none more so than how this fight will play out on the ground. Tate is the better wrestler, but Coenen has proven that she can submit opponents from her back. Coenen probably the better standup unless Tate has really improved since training with Faber’s camp. Tate has already said that she wants to get this fight to the ground on last weeks edition of “Inside MMA”.
The x-factor for me in this fight is the time away from the cage for Tate. It’ll be almost a year since she last fought shen she enters the cage on Saturday night. I’m a firm believer in cage rust. However, I think she’ll be in shape since all of the fighters from Faber’s camp usually have no problem going the distance. But, this is a five round fight and Tate has never been into the fifth round and neither has Coenen. Although Coenen was able to submit Carmouche in the fourth round of their fight.
I think Tate will be able to take Coenen to the ground, then it’ll be a test of conditioning and patience from both fighters. I think Tate is versed enough on the ground that she’ll be able to avoid anything Coenen throws up submission wise unless she tires and has a mental lapse late in the fight. Coenen is very adept at the armbar submission, so Tate will have to be aware of what position she leaves her arms while in top position.
I think the strength and wrestling of Tate will be the difference in this fight, and I’m take pick her to win via decision.