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Tate: Holm was the matador, Rousey the bull

Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA TODAY

As the only woman to face Ronda Rousey twice, Miesha Tate knows how fierce the former women's bantamweight champion can be.

However, according to Tate, it was that unwavering pursuit of a highlight-reel finish that cost Rousey the title in her knockout loss to Holly Holm in November. Tate, who will face Holm at UFC 196 on March 5, says she knows exactly why Holm had so much success against the previously indomitable Rousey.

"I think Ronda went into that fight with Holly thinking, 'If I don't finish this girl in under two minutes, I'm already a failure,' and she went in there with such desperation to get a quick finish - she had 25 minutes to get that fight to the ground and submit Holly," Tate told Damon Martin of FOXSports.com. "I think Ronda is capable of that, but I think she mentally beat herself up after not being able to do that in the first round. Hey it's OK, you have 20 more minutes, like, relax for a second.

"She just went out there like a charging bull in a china shop and she allowed Holly to play the perfect game plan. Holly was the matador, Ronda was the bull. The bull fell victim."

Tate presents a different challenge for Holm. She has four straight wins, all by decision, which might not be as thrilling as Rousey's blink-and-you-missed-it finishes, but Tate believes that's to her benefit.

"I don't care if it takes me 24 minutes and 59 seconds to win that fight, I will be in it to win it," Tate said. "I will be patient when I need to be patient, I will be explosive when I need to be explosive. I will be calculated and precise and I will do exactly what I need to do to win this fight."

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