Holm, 34, made a blistering start to the title fight before 56,000 fans at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, becoming the first fighter to win a round against her fellow American, a former judo champion. Holm was precise and punishing in her stunning upset of Ronda Rousey, acting as a buzzsaw into which the UFC’s superstar continually ran.
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Holm had 10 to 1 odds heading into the fight with Rousey, but Holly never let it get to her.
“I just wanted to thank everyone for the love and support”, Rousey wrote in an Instagram post Sunday night.
Rousey is one of the most skilled fighters in UFC and her record more than backs that up.
As Rousey mentioned, she was always expected to take time away from the cage following this fight.
Holly shocked the world on Saturday, and she now brings a UFC title back to Albuquerque. While the fight was surprisingly short, Holm’s attack was unforgiving, which overwhelmed Rousey, who went down within a minute of the fight’s second round.
However, one of Rousey’s coaches has defended the star’s performance, saying she was simply outclassed on the day.
Ever the quiet achiever, Holm wishes Rousey a speedy recovery, with perhaps just a hint of glee, now that she holds the bantamweight division belt.
Ronda Rousey needed to get knocked out, to put it bluntly. Her last amateur match before going professional was a national amateur championship in Kansas City in the fall of 2001.
There have been rumblings of a potential Miesha Tate fight, but Tate is now embroiled in a mini-beef with UFC brass. “I’ve been on a losing side of a fight and I wanted the rematch; I wanted to avenge my loss”.
This setback could push her to make changes in her approach, tighten up her striking defence and focus in on fighting a little more, eschewing a few of her other obligations and interests while preparing for the inevitable rematch.
“A rematch makes a lot of sense”, UFC boss Dana White said. “Believe me, there’s nothing I would like to do more than disappear for a while”, she told Rolling Stones.
“I have no idea right now”, White said. “So I have to come back tonight and flawless those things I need to get better, ‘” Holm said.
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Vangie Pacheco, who has been friends with Holm since high-school, said it’s been insane to watch her evolve year after year.
