No lucky shot, Holm torches Rousey
Second-round stoppage sets up massive rematch and months of intriguing questions
Holly Holm is the new UFC women’s bantamweight champion, claiming the title Saturday night by dismantling and eventually knocking out previously unbeaten titleholder Ronda Rousey in the main event of UFC 193.
This wasn’t a lucky shot or a close decision that fell in the challenger’s favour; this was a clinic, with the former world champion boxer showcasing her outstanding footwork and clean striking to rattle Rousey early before ending the fight with a devastating head kick 60 seconds into the second round. The unbeaten 34-year-old executed perfectly and did what few thought possible in claiming victory in Rousey-esque fashion in Melbourne, Australia.
An immediate rematch between the two is almost guaranteed, with both Holm and UFC president Dana White saying as much at the postfight news conference. While no dates have been mentioned at this time, it’s hard not to envision Holm and Rousey running it back at UFC 200 in July at the new arena just off the strip in Las Vegas.
Holm-Rousey II as the co-main event to Cormier-Jones II sounds like a good way to close out a show and open your new home court.
Where and when it happens is a topic for future columns, however. The bigger question marks coming out of UFC 193 are how does Rousey respond to the first defeat of her professional career and will Saturday’s phenomenal showing bring a crush of attention to the new champion (and the division as a whole) or will everyone remain focused almost exclusively on Rousey, the established crossover star?
The first question is much harder to answer than the second. Sports media and fan interest over the years have shown that win or lose, there are always going to be those captivating athletes that people want to talk about and focus on more than others. Rousey is in that class and despite Holm having what should be a star-making performance that shows the women’s bantamweight ranks are at the very least a two-woman division, the former champion will remain in the spotlight going forward.
But how she comes back is impossible to know right now because there are so many ways this could shake out.
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 some of her other obligations and interests while preparing for the inevitable rematch.
Or her confidence could be shot, leading to her questioning herself and returning as a frazzled, unsure fighter.
Or she might just say “the hell with it” and walk away, departing for scripted finishes in the WWE or a full-time career in Hollywood, provided those options don’t fade away now that she’s lost.
It will also be curious to see what the UFC does coming out of this fight.
Rousey is the biggest star in the company and a lot of effort went into reiterating to fans of how incredible she was heading into UFC 193, but Holm torched her, so will that praise and push shift to the new champion or will Rousey remain The Golden Child for the organization with Holm being cast as the conqueror who has to prove it wasn’t just a one-time thing in the rematch?
No matter how things unfold, the next few months should be interesting, that’s for sure. The queen is dead. Long live the queen.