Holly Holm recently shared her thoughts on a potential rematch with Ronda Rousey. Holm expressed interest in fighting Rousey again and made it known that she is still actively training and competing.
Holm defeated Rousey by 2nd round knockout to capture the women’s bantamweight championship at UFC 193. It was a highlight-reel finish and is considered one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. ‘Rowdy’ was a dominant force in women’s MMA, but ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ managed to exploit her striking.
Rousey has recently begun training again, with many believing it could signify that she is preparing for a comeback. Holm, on the other hand, was granted her UFC release earlier this year and returned to boxing.
During her appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Holm expressed her desire for a potential rematch. The former women’s bantamweight champion revealed she has always been open to the idea, noting that it would depend on Rousey and the UFC.
“I’ve always been open to a rematch with [Rousey]. I still am,” Holm said. “I just don’t know if she ever wanted to have one. [I’m] not spitting out negativity with Dana [White], the UFC, nothing.”
She emphasized that her stance on the rematch hasn’t changed.
“The offer still stands. I’m still here.”
Why Didn’t Holly Holm Face Ronda Rousey in a Rematch?
A rematch between Holly Holm and Ronda Rousey could have been a massive fight for the UFC. Their first fight was a major success, generating 1.1 million pay-per-view buys.
UFC 193 also set a promotion attendance record with 56, 214 fans in attendance at Marvel Stadium. Despite the magnitude of a rematch, several factors resulted in the fight never materializing.
Rousey went on a hiatus after the loss. Meanwhile, Holm returned shortly after at UFC 196, where she defended her title against Miesha Tate in the co-main event. There, Tate secured a 5th round submission to become the new champion.
“Tate and I on the co-main with Conor [McGregor], that was a big fight,” Holm told The Ariel Helwani Show. “The only thing I regret about that is that I lost focus and lost the fight in the last round.”
Given Rousey’s dominant reign, it was doubtful she would face Holm without a title on the line. Tate also lost the title to Amanda Nunes in her first title defense at UFC 200. As a result, Rousey faced Nunes in her return fight instead.
Holm Explains Why Rousey Might Want to Return to the UFC
Holm also explained why she believes Rousey may want to return to the UFC after all these years. She noted that it could come down to her desire to see if she can still compete at an elite level.
Speaking with The Ariel Helwani Show, Holm described her own journey back to boxing and revealed that she missed it. The former UFC champion feels Rousey could have a renewed passion for the sport.
“I left boxing and when I did MMA full time, I thought I’d never go back to boxing, and here I am back in boxing because I started to miss it,” Holm said. “Any athlete that’s been fighting or at the top level, they got there because they had passion, not just by chance. So, if [Rousey] feels that and wants to come back and do something, great.”
Ex-UFC Champion Holly Holm Open to Potential Ronda Rousey Rematch