UFC Removed Miesha Tate From Rankings Eligibility
The veteran fighter has been dropped from the bantamweight rankings following a recent divisional update.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Mixed Martial Arts
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The UFC has removed veteran Miesha Tate from eligibility for the women's bantamweight rankings. The decision comes as the organization continues to refresh its current divisional standings.
Why it matters
The change reflects the promotion's ongoing evaluation of its roster and competitive landscape. Tate, who returned to the sport after a 2016 retirement, has struggled to maintain momentum in the division.
Miesha Tate holds a 2-4 record since returning to the UFC. The women's bantamweight division currently consists of 24 active athletes competing for 15 available spots in the top media rankings.
The players
Miesha Tate
She is a former UFC bantamweight champion and one of the most recognizable figures in the history of women's mixed martial arts.
UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the premier global mixed martial arts organization that hosts the highest-level professional bouts.
The details
Tate's removal from consideration follows her unanimous decision loss to Yana Santos in May 2025. Daria Zhelezniakova currently occupies the final 15th spot in the updated bantamweight rankings.
Timeline
Miesha Tate retired from MMA in 2016.
Amanda Nunes retired at UFC 289 in 2023.
Miesha Tate lost to Yana Santos in May 2025.
UFC 332 took place last weekend.
Harrison and Nunes are scheduled to fight at UFC 334 next month.
Season Trajectory
The exclusion of Tate marks a continued transition for the bantamweight division following the retirement of Amanda Nunes at UFC 289. This shift creates space for emerging contenders to climb the rankings as the promotion builds toward high-profile matches like UFC 334.
With Tate removed, Daria Zhelezniakova is now cemented in the 15th spot of the rankings. This change clears the path for fighters like Joselyne Edwards and Ailin Perez to move into contention for future top-15 matchups.
The takeaway
The evolving bantamweight rankings demonstrate that recent performance remains the primary metric for staying in the top 15. Fans should track divisional shifts closely as older veteran spots are increasingly claimed by active contenders.
What happens next
Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes are scheduled to face each other at UFC 334, which will take place next month at Madison Square Garden.
Further reading
For more on the current state of the promotion, visit the Mixed Martial Arts section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.
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