As the feud garnered increased attention from fans and the press, Tate and Rousey were ultimately chosen to headline a Strikeforce show on March 3, 2012.

[3][5] Prior to her debut in mixed martial arts (MMA), Ronda Rousey earned multiple titles while competing in judo.

[6] Miesha Tate began competing in amateur wrestling while in high school, winning the state championship in Washington in 2005.

[7] She went on to win the Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Championship, also a 135-pound title, on July 30, 2011, submitting Marloes Coenen with an arm-triangle choke.

[3] Rousey made her pro MMA debut in March 2011, and finished each of her opponents throughout the year by first-round armbar submission.

After defeating her fourth opponent, Julia Budd, at a Strikeforce event in November, Rousey (then fighting at 145 pounds) declared her intentions to challenge Tate for the bantamweight championship.

Rousey offered to fight Kaufman for the top contender spot, stating that she wanted a title shot against Tate specifically.

While discussing Tate's performance against Coenen, Rousey stated, "To be honest, every time I study that tape, I have to take breaks in the middle because I'm just bored.

"[12] While addressing the rivalry in general, Rousey eventually noted, "I think that if we met under different circumstances, if things weren't the way they were, we probably would've ended up being friends.

The main event marked the first occasion on which women had headlined an MMA card since Gina Carano fought Cristiane Santos in 2009.

Following a back-and-forth session of grappling, Rousey secured a second armbar during the final minute of the first round, forcing Tate to submit at 4:27, and becoming the new bantamweight champion.

Prior to this bout, it was announced that the winner of Tate vs. Zingano would receive a shot at the bantamweight title, as well as a coaching position opposite Rousey on The Ultimate Fighter.

[18] On May 28, the UFC announced that Zingano had withdrawn from her coaching opportunity and title shot due to a knee injury, and that Tate would replace her.

[23] Tate and Rousey's rivalry is credited with bringing women's mixed martial arts to the Ultimate Fighting Championship,[4][24] with UFC president Dana White confirming this during a 2012 interview.

In 2013, EA Sports announced that Rousey and Tate were the first-ever female fighters selected for inclusion in a UFC video game.

[26] In an interview with Yahoo!, Rousey stated, "I think people will look back at this as one of the monumental rivalries", and as "one of those things that really cemented women's MMA.