From The Mind Of Miesha Tate: Exploring New Career Opportunities At ONE

ONE Championship Vice President Miesha Tate takes the mic and answers a fan's question

When I joined ONE Championship as a Vice President earlier this year, I had an open mind on where this opportunity could take me, and ONE was ready for the ride, too. That made the journey so much fun from the very start.

I’ve done many things throughout my time here, and commentating the live action is one of my favorite things.

Because I’m not on camera, that allows me to focus on watching, observing, and explaining the essence of martial arts. I dreamed of doing this because I get the chance to give people insights into what’s going on inside the Circle.

Sometimes, fans don’t quite understand what goes on when two grapplers collide. For example, I’ve seen athletes set themselves up for a Von Flue choke, and I get really excited, but sometimes the fans do not see there is a submission that could bring the match to an end. 

So, I feel it’s my responsibility whenever I commentate to educate the public in a field that they may lack knowledge on. I love breaking down the live action, and this is one of the most fun aspects of what I get to do here at ONE.

Besides that, I also handle the post-bout interviews. 

To be honest, I never saw myself doing this. I never knew it was something that I would end up wanting to do. But after a couple of shows, I’ve begun looking forward to it. Speaking to athletes immediately after their victories is something I relish. I know what it feels like to work so hard for something and to have your dream come true. 

I’ve spoken to many athletes, but if I were to pick a couple of post-bout interviews that I have truly enjoyed, I would say it’s the ones I did with Michelle Nicolini and Ev Ting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia back in July.

They were really good interviews, too. Ting was coming off a ‘Bout Of The Night’ performance, while Nicolini was considered a giant underdog by most going into her match against Angela Lee.

Just being able to share that moment with an athlete — even though it was only for two to three minutes — is truly one of the highlights of my job. 

The first time I went on camera live was at ONE: ENTER THE DRAGON in May for the pre-event and post-event shows. 

I’m not going to lie the first time I did it, I was nervous. It was live, and I remember really hoping I wouldn’t mess it up. 

I guess I didn’t do too bad because I was later asked to join the live commentary team alongside Mitch Chilson and Michael Schiavello, something which was not planned at all. I literally jumped into it that night. It’s kind of a sink or swim mentality, but I love that.

That might also mean that ONE recognizes my ability to adapt to different situations, and the organization is never afraid to throw me into the mix and see how I fare. This truly emulates what I do and what I’m used to doing in my career. Although it’s not competing anymore, it is certainly challenging in a whole new aspect. I like to be kept on my toes at all times.

I worry if I pronounce someone’s name wrong or say something wrong – this fear keeps on repeating in my head. But I always tell myself, ‘So what if I mess up? As long as I’m learning to get better, then I’m not really failing, am I? I’m human, mistakes will happen.’

I think fans can appreciate that I’m very candid and an open book. If you make a mistake, then you’ve just got to roll with it, just like you do with the punches. Working alongside Mitch Chilson is a great experience, too. He has great energy and constantly tries to help you.

Apart from that, I worked on a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project during the ONE: IMMORTAL TRIUMPH card in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam last September. 

During our program there, I had the privilege to work with children of all ages and I cherished every second I spent there. These kids came from economically deprived areas, and when they saw ONE come, you could see they saw a light and a new beginning. 

We — the ONE team — sat down and had heart-to-heart conversations with them. Although there was a language barrier, their facial expressions explained what they were feeling at that moment.

My goal was to encourage them to never give up. These children, in particular, had been given an opportunity to get an education through a wonderful scholarship/sponsorship program called Saigon Children.

Most importantly, I wanted to remind them to give back to their community, never to lose sight of where they came from, and pass on the things they have learned so it can benefit others around them.

Never underestimate your ability to make a positive impact on someone’s life. We all need inspiration, we all need people we can look up to, and we all need figures who inspire us to be better versions of ourselves. 

I went there with a goal to help as much as I could, and in any way that I could, but I never could have anticipated the roles would be reversed. When I visited these students, I became the student. I learned so much and I left so inspired by their stories of triumph already at such a young age. 

These outreach projects are always so mutually beneficial. I encourage anyone reading this to find a way to give back in your community because I promise you will get more than you could possibly ever give.

Lastly, I would like to highlight one more project my team and I have been working very hard on — it’s a Facebook series called Who Runs The World?

I sat down with three other women and just chatted about eight different, yet important topics in the world today, and I think it was just spectacular. I can’t wait for the first episode to premiere on Tuesday, 5 November because it’s unlike anything I have ever done before!

????‍♀ WHO RUNS THE WORLD ????‍♀ Martial arts legend Miesha Tate is set to host an all-female talkshow on hot-button topics from around the ????! Don't miss the first episode on 5 November!

????‍♀ WHO RUNS THE WORLD ????‍♀Martial arts legend Miesha Tate is set to host an all-female talkshow on hot-button topics from around the ????! Don't miss the first episode on 5 November!

Posted by ONE Championship on Tuesday, 29 October 2019

How do I do all these things simultaneously? The secret is to be confident and easygoing. If you’re too uptight about things, you are going to feel frustrated, and you will feel like you’re not going to adapt to an ever-changing situation.

Staying relaxed and just having that confidence to know that I’m not going to be perfect, no matter how much time or how little time I have to make something perfect, is all I can expect of myself.

Being a part of ONE has been a valuable experience thus far, and now, there is an opportunity for me to give back and help people understand how great the sport of martial arts really is. 

Miesha Tate is the Vice President of ONE Championship. She is also a multi-time mixed martial arts World Champion, as well as a women’s mixed martial arts pioneer. Check back weekly for a new installment of “From The Mind Of Miesha Tate.”

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