Thoughts on Tate vs Nakai

By: Antonio Cooper
@AntonioCooper88
July 1, 2014

UFC Japan is right around the corner and I'm sure we're all interested in the new female the UFC signed to fight Miesha Tate, Rin Nakai who looks like she has the Arms of Hulk Hogan and the fashion sense of a princess, which isn't necessarily a bad thing for a female fighter. 

But with a 16-0-1 record do you think the UFC is feeding Miesha "Always second to Rousey" Tate to the wolves or does she legitimately stand a fighting chance with this strong-armed lady.

To be honest... I had no idea who Rin Nakai was until this fight was announced, so I don't think my opinion regarding her skills carries all that much weight.

I've never seen her fight, but she looks pretty scary !   

If I had to make a pick right now, especially in light of the fact that Nakai hasn't really been fighting top tier talent for the last couple of years, I'd likely go with Tate for the win.

With that said... I'm pretty certain that Tate will be the favored fighter by fans and oddsmakers, but I'm gonna have to check out a few of Nakai's fights out before I form a somewhat solid opinion on this match-up.

To be honest, I hadn't heard of Rin Nakai, until I heard about this fight. Dayum, lookit them guns! And she's packin' 135 pounds on a 5'1" frame! Looking over her record, She's got 4 KO's, 6 submissions, and 6 decisions. Not bad! Tells me her striking may lack a little, but her grappling must be OK, and she has the gas tank to go the distance, if needed.

I had to revise my original post. After watching Nakai's fight with Tara LaRosa, - she is a pretty slick grappler, but she doesn't take punches well. If Miesha can make this a striking war, she's got this! (but then, she was getting the better of Rousey with her striking too, but her corner kept yelling for her to grapple, and Ronda handed her ass, every time.)

Yea, I completely agree but from the looks of things Nakai has the arms of a 155er lol I don't think her gas tank will last against Tate's wrestling

Tate will win this match up.

 

Bumping up this thread to go along with Antonio's threads from the "MMA Chat Articles" forum.

I've read some comments by MMA fans in the recent past that say Rin Nakai is a formidable opponent... and might be able to take Rousey !

Miesha Tate will be a good measuring stick, then. See how Nakai does against her - that will tell us a lot about how well she'll fare against Ronda.

I just looked up Rin Nakai on the UFC site, and Nakai is 16-0-1.

Most of Nakai's opponents were at her level of experience when she fought them, but a couple of them were cans.

Most of her competition looks legit though, and it looks like she even made several fighters quit the game of combat sports. Several of her opponents haven't fought since fighting Nakai.

She also beat Tara LaRosa who was 21-3 with 12 submission wins when they met.

We'll get to see LaRosa fight Roxanne Modafferi at Invicta FC 8 Sept 6, and that's 2 weeks before Tate and Nakai fight.

Rousey Fan wrote:

I just looked up Rin Nakai on the UFC site, and Nakai is 16-0-1.

Most of Nakai's opponents were at her level of experience when she fought them, but a couple of them were cans.

Most of her competition looks legit though, and it looks like she even made several fighters quit the game of combat sports. Several of her opponents haven't fought since fighting Nakai.

She also beat Tara LaRosa who was 21-3 with 12 submission wins when they met.

We'll get to see LaRosa fight Roxanne Modafferi at Invicta FC 8 Sept 6, and that's 2 weeks before Tate and Nakai fight.

There's no doubt that Tate has fought the better level of opposition, but I think this fight just might be closer than most fans might expect it to be.

I went out and looked at Rin Nakai as well, and I'm fairly certain that Tate will be the favorite by fans and oddsmakers... but I might go with the upset in this one.

 thread since there's a lull in action before the next event.