Who is Miesha Tate? All you need to know about the female MMA fighter

Who is Miesha Tate? All you need to know about the female MMA fighter

Grace Waruguru
updated at April 20, 2023 at 8:21 AM

If you are a martial arts enthusiast, you have likely come across Miesha Tate, a professional martial artist whose exceptional performance has put her in the global limelight. Fans have been eager to peek into her life, background, career history, and personal life.

who is Miesha Tate
Miesha Tate poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at UFC APEX on November 19, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Chris Unger.
Source: Getty Images

In previous years, Martial Arts was a male-dominated sport, a phenomenon that has changed significantly. Today, women like Tate have secured their space and are thriving in the field, earning global recognition and awards.

Miesha Tate's profile and bio summary

Full name

Miesha Theresa Tate

Nickname

Cupcake

Date of birth

August 18, 1986

Zodiac sign

Leo

Age

36 years old (As of 2023)

Nationality

American

Place of birth

Tacoma, Washington, USA

Parents

Robert and Michelle Schmidt

Sister

Felicia Martin

Children

Amaia Nevaeh Nunez, Daxton Wylder Nunez

Partner

Johnny Nunez

Hair

Dark brown

Eyes

Dark brown

Height

5 feet, 6 inches

Weight

57 kgs

Education

Central Washington University

Profession

Professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) artist, reality TV star, actress

Instagram

Miesha Tate

Twitter

Miesha Tate

How old is Miesha Tate?

Miesha Tate's age is 36 years old as of 2023. The legend who is Miesha Tate has had a successful career in various fields. Miesha is a professional martial artist, actress, and reality TV star born in Tacoma, Washington, USA.

who is Miesha Tate married to
Miesha Tate prepares to battle Bia Mesquita during the UFC Fight Pass Invitational 3 at UFC APEX on December 15, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Chris Unger.
Source: Getty Images

Miesha Tate's parents are Mr and Mrs Robert and Michelle Schmidt. Tate grew up alongside one younger sister, Felicia Martin, who is reportedly a professional model.

Why is Miesha Tate called 'Cupcake'?

Tate goes by the alias 'Cupcake' and says that the name enables her to defy the stereotypes that come with her profession. This means that she appears sweet and feminine on the outside, but she's a tough cooky in the octagon.

Education

Miesha attended Franklin Pierce High School, where she was a wrestling team member. Surprisingly, during her senior year, she won the girls' state championship title in 2005.

who is Miesha Tate dating
Miesha Tate poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night official weigh-in at the Long Island Marriott on July 15, 2022, in Uniondale, New York. Photo: Katie Schmeichel
Source: Getty Images

After high school, the MMA queen joined Central Washington University. She joined the MMA club after a friend encouraged her to. Tate grew as an amateur and participated in several fights. Miesha Tate's record as an amateur is 5-1.

Career

Miesha Tate made her professional debut in November 2007 when she fought Jan Finney at the HooknShoot Women's Grand Prix. Her first MMA title came in 2009 when she won the FCF Women's Bantamweight Championship.

Between 2009 and 2013, Tate participated in other contests, including the Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Tournament (2010), which she won. The fighter joined the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) in 2013, winning her first match against Rin Nakai in 2014.

In 2015, Tate won the UFC Championships, earning her first Performance of the Night bonus award. However, she retired from MMA the following year after losing to Raquel Pennington at UFC 205 and became the Vice President of One Championship in 2018. In 2021, Tate announced her return to professional fighting and debuted in a fight against Marion Reneau.

TV appearances

Miesha Tate record
Miesha Tate prepares to fight Lauren Murphy in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UBS Arena on July 16, 2022, in Elmont, New York. Photo: Jeff Bottari
Source: Getty Images

Besides being a prolific fighter, Miesha Tate is also a doting TV personality. She was part of the Celebrity Big Brother Season 3 cast in 2022, where she emerged as the winner. Additionally, Miesha appeared in a few movies, including:

  • Fight Life (2013)
  • Here Without You (2016)
  • Fight Valley (2016)

She also co-hosts Throwing Down With Renee and Miesha on Sirius XM with Renee Paquette.

Who is Miesha Tate dating?

Tate previously dated UFC colleague Bryan Caraway, whom she met while studying at the university, but their relationship ended after about 10 years. The reasons for their break up remain a mystery. Miesha has since moved on to a new relationship.

Who is Miesha Tate married to?

Tate is in a romantic relationship with Johnny Nunez, a fellow UFC fighter who is also the father of her two children. The pair went public in 2018 but are not officially married. However, Miesha Tate's Instagram account has numerous photos of the lovers.

Their firstborn daughter, Amaia Nevae, was born in 2018, while their son, Daxton Wylder, came into this world in 2020. A look at Miesha Tate's photos shows a close relationship between the lovebirds and their children.

Miesha Tate family
Miesha Tate prepares to fight Ketlen Vieira of Brazil in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on November 20, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Chris Unger.
Source: Getty Images

Besides sharing a name, Miesha and kickboxer, Andrew Tate have some similarities. For example, they were both born in 1986 and come from Washington, D.C. However, they are not related.

Three-time world champion Miesha Tate has broken the glass ceiling in her professional career. As she balances life as a mother and athlete, the future can only get brighter as she pursues higher heights in the years to come.

READ ALSO: What is the difference between MMA and boxing?

Sportsbrief published the difference between Mixed Martial Arts and boxing. While the two sports involve fighting, there is a significant difference between them. Here are some of the disparities.

The gloves used in the two contact sports are different. The ones used in boxing are designed for punching only, while the MMA ones are flexible, allowing the fighters to use their hands while fighting. Check out the article above for all the differences between the two sports.

Authors
Grace Waruguru photo
Grace Waruguru
Grace has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya.