Des Moines, Iowa — Miesha Tate, the former UFC bantamweight champ, isn’t one to stay quiet for long. After a bruising unanimous decision loss to Yana Santos at UFC Des Moines on May 3, 2025, the fighter known as “Cupcake” broke her silence with a social media post that’s got fans and analysts scratching their heads. The cryptic message, dropped on May 4, comes as whispers of retirement swirl around the 38-year-old veteran, whose comeback to the octagon hasn’t gone as planned.
Tate’s post, shared on Instagram, was short but heavy with ambiguity. “Life’s a fight, and I’m still swinging. Not done living yet,” she wrote, alongside a black-and-white photo of her staring into the distance. No direct mention of her future in the cage, no clear hint of hanging up the gloves—or not. It’s the kind of vague, loaded statement that leaves everyone guessing, and it’s the first she’s said publicly since the defeat that marked her third loss in five fights since returning to the UFC in 2021.
The fight itself was no walk in the park. Tate, facing Santos in the prelim headliner, came out guns blazing, landing sharp strikes early. But Santos, a Russian bantamweight with a knack for grinding out wins, turned the tide with relentless pressure and crisp counterpunches. By the final bell, the judges scored it 29-28 across the board for Santos, handing Tate another setback. The Des Moines crowd, packed into Wells Fargo Arena, let their disappointment show, booing loudly during Santos’ post-fight interview.
Tate’s road back to the UFC has been rocky. After retiring in 2016 following a loss to Raquel Pennington, she stepped away from MMA, citing burnout and a desire to start a family. She returned five years later, scoring a TKO win over Marion Reneau in July 2021. But since then, victories have been scarce. Her record now stands at 2-3 in this second chapter, with losses to Ketlen Vieira, Lauren Murphy, and now Santos. For a fighter who once ruled the division and headlined against legends like Ronda Rousey, the recent skid has sparked talk that the end might be near.
The retirement chatter isn’t new. Tate herself has dodged the question in past interviews, saying only that she’d “know when it’s time.” But the UFC Des Moines defeat, coupled with her age and the sport’s brutal toll, has turned up the volume on those discussions. Her latest post, while defiant, didn’t exactly shut the door on walking away. Fans flooded the comments, some urging her to keep fighting, others thanking her for an already storied career.
Tate’s team has stayed mum. No official statement from her camp or the UFC has addressed her plans, leaving the cryptic post as the only clue to her mindset. For now, the former champ remains a question mark in a sport that waits for no one.
Miesha Tate lost to Yana Santos via unanimous decision on May 3, 2025, at UFC Des Moines. She posted on Instagram on May 4, 2025, stating, “Life’s a fight, and I’m still swinging. Not done living yet.” Her professional MMA record is 20-10. She won the UFC bantamweight title in 2016.