Ketlen Vieira picked up a huge win over a former champion on Saturday.

The 30-year-old bantamweight contender turned away Miesha Tate after a hard-fought five rounds. Vieira (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) was quick to the punch and largely kept the fight on her terms, creating problems for Tate (19-8 MMA, 6-5 UFC) en route to a unanimous decision victory, with scores of 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46.

The women’s bantamweight bout was the UFC Fight Night 198 main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It streamed on ESPN+.

After a touch of gloves, the fighters began trying to find the range. Vieira let her hands fly first, stinging with a sharp combination to get Tate’s attention early. The former champ was calculated in her approach as she searched for an opening, and found home for a few punches late in the round. Vieira would shoot for a takedown, but Tate countered and ended the close opening frame in top position.

Big shots from the former BW champ #UFCVegas43 pic.twitter.com/eZV52vWL0Q

— UFC (@ufc) November 21, 2021

Striking exchanges were frequent early in the second round. Both fighters landed clean strikes, but Vieira’s left jab set the tone. Tate charged forward and unleashed a flurry of strikes in the center of the cage, but Vieira answered back as she worked returned to working behind the jab to close out the round.

Tate continued her approach in the third, trying to work around the long jab of Vieira. After a brief pause due to an accidental eye poke from Tate, the striking exchanges continued with Vieira’s reach creating problems for Tate. In the closing moments of the round, Tate tried to switch things up by initiating clinches and ended the round landing knees to the body.

Turning up the pressure to start the fourth, Tate went first with strikes and completed a takedown. Vieira got back to her feet quickly, but Tate maintained a clinch along the fence. After breaking free, Tate was able to grab a thai clinch, but Vieira got the best of it by landing a series of punches to the body before separating. The Brazilian fired off punches first until the round concluded.

First takedown of the fight for @MieshaTate #UFCVegas43 pic.twitter.com/C6gAbUu3oc

— UFC (@ufc) November 21, 2021

The final round began with a fast pacer pace than the previous rounds. Tate was first to strike, but Vieira countered well, causing the blood to flow from the former champ’s nose. Tate looked to land hard right hands, but Vieira would return fire with precise counter punches. Vieira kept Tate at range by popping out the left jab as they circled around the cage until the fight concluded.

HUGE right hand by @KetlenVieiraUFC pic.twitter.com/KeeEABo6cn

— UFC (@ufc) November 21, 2021

Vieira returns to the win column with a big victory over Tate. She has now traded wins and losses in each outing since 2018, after entering the UFC undefeated and winning her first four bouts with the promotion. Saturday’s impressive win over Tate should go a long way as she continues to navigate her way towards a title shot.

After stepping out of retirement in July with incredible results, Tate suffers a setback in her goal of a second title run. In her TKO win over Marion Reneau at UFC on ESPN 26, Tate looked completely rejuvenated as a fighter. On Saturday, however, Vieira was just a step ahead of the former champ.

Updated UFC Fight Night 198 results include:

• Ketlen Vieira def. Miesha Tate unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
• Sean Brady def. Michael Chiesa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Taila Santos def. Joanne Wood via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:49
• Rani Yahya def. Kyung Ho Kang via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Adrian Yanez def. Davey Grant via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
• Pat Sabatini def. Tucker Lutz via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
• Rafa Garcia def. Natan Levy via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Loopy Godinez def. Loma Lookboonmee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Cody Durden def. Aori Qileng via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Shayilan Nuerdanbieke def. Sean Soriano via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Luana Pinheiro def. Sam Hughes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)