Miesha Tate: Suicide has never been an option for me, but I understand loss

Miesha Tate/Fight Valley

Last week former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey made headlines when she broke down and told Ellen Degeneres on air that she'd considered killing herself after her UFC 193 KO loss to Holly Holm last November. The topic is an important one and was already a personal one to Rousey, whose father committed suicide when she was just a little girl.

Her longtime rival Miesha Tate gets the next crack at the 135-pound women's belt against Holm next month, and she spoke about Rousey's recent suicide comments to the local Las Vegas NBC TV affiliate. Though Tate says she's never considered suicide after losing big bouts, or at any other time, she also said that she believes she understands the feeling of deep loss.

"When [Rousey] says like, 'Oh, I was, you know, considering suicide,' I don't necessarily think she meant like 'Oh, I'm going to go home and, you know, actually do it,' but it just feels like you want to die," Tate offered.

"I've never considered taking my own life. For me, especially religiously, it is just never an option for me."

Tate went on to say that she herself had personal experience with a loved one taking their own life. That horrible situation made an impact on her.

"I had a boyfriend who committed suicide, early on in my life, and I promised that I would never do that to the people who are around me," she said.

"So, no matter how down and out I get, taking my own life is not an option. But, I understand those emotions of feeling like you've lost everything."

Watch the interview in the video at the top.