The Gold Coast Bulletin

A Holm run for Megan

- MARCO MONTEVERDE

GOLD Coast fighter Megan Anderson faces the biggest test of her mixed martial arts career when she meets Ronda Rousey’s conqueror Holly Holm at UFC 225 in June.

Anderson, 28, will make her UFC debut after rising to prominence in the smaller Invicta FC promotion, where she won the featherwei­ght championsh­ip.

She had been scheduled to meet current UFC featherwei­ght champion Cris Cyborg in July last year but withdrew for personal reasons.

But another chance to meet Cyborg and challenge for her title looms for Anderson if she can beat Holm, who upset the previously undefeated Rousey in Melbourne in November 2015.

“A lot of people doubt that I’m at the level, but I’m ready to show everyone that I am and that I deserve to be here,” Anderson said.

“(Holm) is a world-class athlete, she’s a profession­al boxer, she’s held belts in boxing, she’s held belts in MMA and I think because I’m so new to the sport, people think … I’m not at that level.

“There’s always room to prove people wrong and I always love doing that.

“The UFC is the premier promotion in the world. Everyone’s goal is to reach the UFC so to get that opportunit­y is amazing.”

Anderson has been based in Kansas City since moving to the US 2½ years ago.

The former student of All Saints Anglican School at Merrimac started MMA training five years ago and surprised herself with her ability.

“Extremely unathletic would be the phrase that I would use,” Anderson said in describing herself.

“I played soccer at school. I was terrible at it (but) in my early 20s I got into going to the gym, lifting some weights just to keep fit, and I was introduced to MMA.”

Anderson is one of three Australian­s set to fight on the UFC 225 card on June 9, joining middleweig­ht champion Robert Whittaker and heavyweigh­t Tai Tuivasa.

 ?? Main picture: SCOTT HIRANO PHOTOGRAPH­Y ?? Megan Anderson faces a huge test when she takes on Holly Holm (top left), who punished Ronda Rousey in their Melbourne bout in 2015.
Main picture: SCOTT HIRANO PHOTOGRAPH­Y Megan Anderson faces a huge test when she takes on Holly Holm (top left), who punished Ronda Rousey in their Melbourne bout in 2015.
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