UFC stars Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey have never exactly been best of friends.
But Tate said Thursday on “The Jim Rome Show” that she felt some compassion toward Rousey, who has admitted having suicidal thoughts in the aftermath of losing her UFC bantamweight belt to Holly Holm in November.
“I felt bad in a way, because I sympathize for [Rousey] in those emotions of feeling so down,” said Tate, who claimed the bantamweight belt by beating Holm on Saturday at UFC 196. “I’ve never been to the point where I’ve considered taking my own life over this sport, but I have been down to the point where I felt like my soul was dead. So I can sympathize with that, and I know how hard it is.”
Tate is 0-2 against Rousey, including a loss by third-round submission in a title bout at UFC 168.
“When you lose, it’s really, really hard. It’s really devastating, and I understand what she’s going through, because I’ve been there before, and we all go through those things in life,” Tate said. “Those emotions, you get that when you get down and out and you get knocked down and get kicked while you’re down, and you just got to kind of pick yourself up by the boot straps, put one foot in front of the other, and that’s the reason why I’m the world champion today.”
UFC President Dana White has said Tate will get a third shot at Rousey. But Tate said she’s not even sure if Rousey can find the will to fight anymore. “What I don’t recognize in Ronda is the will to build herself back up from this breaking point,” Tate said.
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Conor McGregor, left, and Nate Diaz exchange punches during their welterweight fight at UFC 196 on March 5. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times )
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Nate Diaz takes down Conor McGregor during their non-title welterweight bout at UFC 196 in Las Vegas on March 5. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times )
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Nate Diaz grapples with Conor McGregor during their welterweight bout at UFC 196.
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Nate Diaz takes down Conor McGregor during their UFC 196 fight on Saturday night.
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Nate Diaz celebrates his win over Conor McGregor at UFC 196 on March 5. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Nate Diaz celebrates his win over Conor McGregor after their non-title welterweight fight at UFC 196.
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Miesha Tate goes for a single-leg takedown against Holly Holm during their women’s bantamweight title bout at UFC 196.
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Holly Holm, bottom, tries to fend off Miesha Tate during their women’s bantamweight title fight at UFC 196.
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Holly Holm lands a big left against Miesha Tate during their UFC 196 women’s bantamweight championship fight.
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Holly Holm, left, and Miesha Tate trade kicks during their women’s bantamweight title fight at UFC 196 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
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Miesha Tate takes down Holly Holm during their UFC 196 women’s bantamweight title fight. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Miesha Tate sinks the chokehold on Holly Holm that led to a submission in the fifth round of their women’s bantamweight championship fight at UFC 196 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
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Miesha Tate springs to her feet after defeating Holly Holm by submission in the women’s bantamweight championship fight at UFC 196.
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Miesha Tate celebrates after defeating Holly Holm at UFC 196 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
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Gian Villante, left, tries to block a kick by Ilir Latifi during their bout at UFC 196.
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Gian Villante, left, and Ilir Latifi grapple during their light-heavyweight fight at UFC 196.
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Gian Villante, left, tries to prevent a takedown by Ilir Latifi during their light-heavyweight fight at UFC 196.
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Valentina Shevchenko tries to land a knee against Amanda Nunes during their women’s bantamweight fight at UFC 196.
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Valentina Shevchenko, left, sends Amanda Nunes reeling during their UFC 196 women’s bantamweight bout.
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Valentina Shevchenko, left, tries to fend off the attack by Amanda Nunes in a women’s bantamweight bout at UFC 196.
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Amanda Nunes has the upper hand during her UFC 196 bout against Valentina Shevchenko.
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Amanda Nunes, left, has a kick blocked by Valentina Shevchenko during their UFC 196 women’s bantamweight fight.
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Valentina Shevchenko, right, lands a right during her UFC 196 bout against Amanda Nunes.
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Valentina Shevchenko, bloody face and all, is ready for more action during her UFC 196 women’s bantamweight fight against Amanda Nunes.
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Valentina Shevchenko was able to fend off the attacks by Amanda Nunes to win the women’s bantamweight bout by unanimous decision at UFC 196.
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Corey Anderson, left, lands an overhand right against Tom Lawlor during UFC 196.
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Corey Anderson works from the top against Tom Lawlor during their light-heavyweight bout at UFC 196.
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Corey Anderson, left, and Tom Lawlor trade blows during their light-heavyweight bout at UFC 196.
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Corey Anderson takes down Tom Lawlor during their light-heavyweight fight at UFC 196.
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Corey Anderson completes a takedown agianst Tom Lawlor during their UFC 196 fight.
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Corey Anderson raises his arms after defeating Tom Lawlor in a light-heavyweight bout at UFC 196.
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Brandon Thatch punches Siyar Bahadurzada during their bout at UFC 196.
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Brandon Thatch lands a kick against Siyar Bahadurzada during their UFC 196 bout.
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Siyar Bahadurzada celebrates after defeating Brandon Thatch during UFC 196.
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Vitor Miranda kicks Marcelo Guimaraes during their UFC 196 bout.
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Marcelo Guimaraes, left, and Vitor Miranda trade punches in the middle of the octagon during their UFC 196 bout.
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Nordine Taleb celebrates after defeating Erick Silva at UFC 196 on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
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Darren Elkins (top) slams Chas Skelly to the canvas during their UFC 196 bout on Saturday night.
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Diego Sanchez, left, follows through after punching Jim Miller during their bout at UFC 196.
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Jim Miller lands a kick against Diego Sanchez during their UFC 196 bout in Las Vegas.
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Julian Erosa attempts a kick against Teruto Ishihara during their bout at UFC 196.
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Teruto Ishihara sends Julian Erosa to the canvas before winning by a technical knockout in the second round of their UFC 196 bout.
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Jason Saggo celebrates after defeating Justin Salas at UFC 196.
(Rey Del Rio / Getty Images) “She hit such a low, and I haven’t heard her say the things that I would want to hear someone say if they really wanted to come back from something like that. ...
“What I’m looking to hear is, ‘I’m going to come back better, I’m going to come stronger, I will be the champion again.’ I haven’t heard her say those things, so it makes me really wonder where is her mind at.”
