FIGHTER PROFILE: HOLLY HOLM

Holly Holm is one of MMA’s biggest stars who’s faced some of the biggest names in the sport. Holm who started off as a boxer and transitioned to MMA has produced some of the sports wildest moments including an upset victory against Ronda Rousey. Holm is always training and even at forty is producing some great fights and is second in the UFC Women’s Bantamweight division, an impressive feat for any athlete especially in a sport whose athletes have a short shelf life.

Holm was born on October 17, 1981 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her father is a Church of Christ preacher and her mother is a massage therapist. Her parents divorced when Holm was in High School. Holm always was an athlete; she competed in gymnastics, swimming and diving. Holm also played soccer when she was younger. When Holm was 16 she was taking an aerobics class and her cardio kickboxing teacher Mike Winkeljohn noticed her abilities and encouraged her to train, which Holm did and was a natural. 

Holm would win the International Rules Adult Women’s Welterweight Division championship at the International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) USA National Amateur Championship Tournament. Holm would finish her amateur kickboxing record career with a 6–0–2 record. Holm would then go on to start a professional boxing career. Holm held several boxing world titles and is considered to be one of the best female boxers of all time. Holm finished her boxing career in 2013 while fighting MMA at the same time.

Holm started her MMA career in 2011 when she beat Christina Domke by TKO (leg kicks.) for the Fresquez Productions promotion which was owned by her Boxing Promoter, Lenny Fresquez. From there Holm Would move on to Bellator and then Legacy FC before signing with The UFC. Her first fight in the UFC would be against Raquel Pennington, Holm would win via a split decision. From there she’d face Marion Reneau in July of 2015 she’d win by unanimous decision. Holm would then go on to face Ronda Rousey for the Bantamweight title she’d win by KO (head kick and punches.) In her next fight she’d lose the title to Miesha Tate.

Since losing her title Holm has gone on to face some of the toughest names in the Bantamweight and Featherweight divisions including tough loses to Cris Cyborg, Amanda Nunes, and Valentina Schevchenko. She is a great fighter and is currently ranked second in the Bantamweight division and sixth in the women’s pound-for-pound rankings and is riding a two fight win streak with victories against Raquel Pennington and Irene Aldana.