Hottie of the Week: MMA Fighter Miesha Tate

This week's Hottie of the Week (HOW) is MMA fighter Miesha Tate. Tate is 21 and from Ellinsburg, Washington. This 5'6" hottie has a 2-1 professional record and she is coming off a big win against Elaina Maxwell last month at the Strikeforce show in San Jose. Tate's boyfriend, Bryan Caraway, is also a MMA fighter. 

To view D Wizzle's interview with Caraway, click here -
http://dwizzlesworld.blogspot.com/2008/07/interview-with-elitexc-fighter-bryan_21.html

Hey Miesha, how's it going today? Congratulations on your  win over Elaina Maxwell at Strikeforce!

Thanks, it was a big win for me!

Would you like a rematch with Kaitlin Young one day since she gave you your first and only loss in your career?

Yes, I would because I feel like I learned a lot from that loss. I've developed a much better and more aggressive style of fighting, and I believe I would win a rematch!

You were on the boys wrestling team in high school. How did that come about?

My best friend Sharon and I decided to join the wrestling team together, because we both love sports. I just don't like basketball.  We decided to wrestle since there was no other sports offered during that season and we both grew to love wrestling immensely.

Is that how you met your boyfriend, Bryan Caraway?

I actually met him at college. He and Tommy Truex started a basic jui-jitsu club, and I decided to try it out and thought it was way cool, I was encouraged by the guys to commute with them to Yakima and train more seriously up there.

Is he the reason you got into MMA?

Well pretty much... yea,  he is the reason besides me  having a wrestling background.  If he hadn't started that club, I wouldn't be where I am today that's for sure.

Where do you train at and who are some of your trainers and training partners?

I originally trained out of Yakima MMA under Rich Guerin,  and that's where I learned all of my basics and most of what I know today, but I now train out of Victory Athletics with Dennis Hallman and it's a great gym!

Were you more nervous for your fight with Maxwell or Bryan's fight?

Probably more nervous for his fight... not because I doubt his ability in any way, but because I know how much he despises losing,  and that's a risk we all take when we get in the cage.

How do you think you would do against Gina Carano?

At this point in my career, I don't think I'd really consider fighting her, but I do have the potential to beat her especially because I don't think she's really had anyone challange her on the ground, which is exactly what I would do!

Who are some of your favorite fighters to watch?

Obviously,  my boyfriend Bryan is my number one because he is so talented, a good person, and he helps me a lot with my fight career, but I also like GSP because he's an amazing athlete and he's not cocky. I also like Shayna Baszler because she's a total badass!

What are some of the things you like to do when you are not training?

I like to watch a lot of movies. I also like camping and anything that has to do with the water!

Is there any opponent that you would like to fight next?

I'd like to fight Liz Posener because she was my first amateur fight and my only amateur loss.

What part of your game do you think you need to work on the most?

Well, I'm not afraid to stand but that's probably where I need the most work!

What weight class do you prefer to fight in? Is it hard for you to cut weight down to 145? It looks like you weigh a lot less than 145 to me.

I walk around at about 145,  and I prefer to fight at 135 because I'm used to cutting weight and that is a comfortable cut for me.

Who would win in a fight between you and Bryan in the cage?

(Laughs) Well, he would probably let me beat up on him  for a while and work my game a little, and then at the end, he'd kick my butt and probably sub me out in like two seconds!! (laughs)

How come you don't have a nickname yet? We need to get you one.

Well the nickname I came out to was "TakeDown" Tate, but who knows about that one! I guess I do need a real nickname because no one's givin me one that's stuck yet!

Thanks for taking the time to talk to me. I can't wait to see you fight again. Do you have any final words for the fans out there?

Just a big thank you for all the support and I can't wait to fight again!

Q&A With MMA Fighter Elaina "Beef" Maxwell

Here is an Q&A with female MMA fighter Elaina "Beef" Maxwell. Maxwell is a fighter with Strikeforce and fights out of Cung Le's gym. She has a MMA record of 2-2 and one of her losses was  to Gina Carano  by decision in 2006. Maxwell will be fighting Meisha Tate on June 27 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. 

Hey Beef, How are you?

I'm doing great. I am  training hard for my upcoming fight on June 27th in San Jose. For tickets, you can  go to http://strikeforce. strongvon. com, and select MAXWELL. To catch it on television, check out HDNet and NBC!

Did you get a chance to watch the Gina Carano vs. Kaitlin Young fight? 

No, I was at XFA(Xtreme Fighting Association) in Las Vegas.

You fought Gina once in a kickboxing matcht and once in the cage. Would you like a rematch with Gina in the future?

Yes.

What do you think of Gina not making weight for her fight against Kaitlin Young and being four and a half pounds over the weight limit?

There should be more weight divisions for women.

What do you know about your opponent on June 27, Meisha Tate?

She is a high school wrestler and trains with Dennis Hallman.

What kind of fight should we expect between you and Meisha?

Like all of my other MMA fights, it’ll be fight of the night. It’ll be a classic match-up of striker vs grappler.

Are there any fighters out there that you would like to face after your fight with Tate? 

I take one fight at a time, so I’m not there just yet. Maybe I’ll think about that on June 28th!

How do you like fighting for Strikeforce, and do you feel added pressure to win and put on a good performance due to all the local support you get in San Jose?

I love fighting for a local organization, such as Strikeforce, especially since I have been fighting for them for such a long time since I was an amateur kickboxer. Although I do love traveling and competing abroad, there won’t be any additional pressure because I am used to fighting in San Jose.

What part of your game do you think you need to work on the most?

I would like to work more on my transitions from stand-up to ground, and on my ground game of course, especially since I’m only a blue belt.

What is it like to train with a superstar like Cung Le? 

It’s been great to watch him evolve from San Shou to MMA. It has definitely helped me transition into becoming a well-rounded MMA fighter.

How did you get your nickname "Beef"? A lot of fans are wondering about that.

I worked at Outback Steakhouse for five  years when I first started training martial arts, and my teammates thought my strength and power came from all of the beef I consumed. When I call people, my caller ID is not Elaina but “Beef” or “Beefy!"(laughs)

What do you have to say to critics who think that women should not be fighting in MMA?

If I thought about that, then I wouldn’t be where I am today. I can’t change people's point of view with my words.  I can only change them with my actions.

Do you have any final words for all the MMA fans out there?

I’d like to thank my sisters, Ila & Christina, and my sponsors: Toyota, Sprawl, Takedown, Score Clinic, Conquer, BR Flooring, ADP Graphics & GTS.

Interview with MMA Fighter Elaina "Beef" Maxwell Coming Soon

Look out for an interview with MMA fighter Elaina "Beef" Maxwell. It will be up in a few days.