Miesha Tate questions the mental toughness of rival Ronda Rousey

The long-running feud between UFC women's bantamweights Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate doesn't appear to be losing any steam.

Appearing on the "Conan" show on TBS, Tate questioned Rousey's mental toughness following the ex-champ's first defeat.

"She seems awfully pouty about the loss," Tate said when asked about her rival. "And it's like, we've all had losses, you know, either get up and get back on the horse and come back stronger for it, or you sit out for over a year."

Rousey has not fought since suffering a TKO defeat at the hands of Holly Holm at UFC 193 in November 2015. The loss was the first of Rousey's UFC career and cost her the bantamweight title -- a belt now held by Tate.

"I'm at the best point of my career, and she's at the worst," said Tate, who won the title by submitting Holm at UFC 196 in March.

"I feel crazy possessive over that thing [the championship belt]; that's my baby," Tate said. "I'm going to protect it."

Tate, 29, was appearing on the late-night talk show ahead of her fight at UFC 200 on July 9 against Amanda Nunes(12-4). Should Tate (18-5) successfully defend her title, a third fight between Tate and Rousey (12-1) could loom on the horizon.

"I've been defeated before, but I've come back stronger for it," said Tate, who lost both of her previous fights against Rousey. "I question whether she will be able to do the same."