Holly Holm is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Her personal MMA record is 14-5-0 (W-L-D). Holly Holm is the former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, and a former professional boxer and kickboxer. She was a multiple-time world champion in boxing, defending her titles 18 times in three weight classes, and a two-time Ring magazine fighter of the year (2005, 2006). Holly Holm is ranked by BoxRec as the best female professional boxer of all time. She has the notable distinction of being the first (and currently only) fighter to hold a world-boxing title and a UFC title.
Holly Holm was born on October 17, 1981, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the United States. Growing up, Holm played soccer and participated in gymnastics, swimming and diving. Her parents divorced shortly before she graduated from Manzano High School in 2000; after graduation, she studied for a year at the University of New Mexico.
Holly Holm MMA career
Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm’s most notable win in mixed martial arts (MMA) occurred at UFC 193 (November 15, 2015), in front of a record-breaking crowd for a UFC event (56,215 people) in Melbourne, when she captured the bantamweight title and gave Ronda Rousey her first loss in the sport. This fight is generally considered to be one of the biggest upsets in combat-sports history.
MMA debut
Holly Holm made her professional MMA debut on March 04, 2011, versus Christina Domke at Fresquez Productions – Double Threat. She won the fight by TKO (Leg Kicks) in Round 2.
Early MMA career
On September 9, 2011, Holly Holm won her fight versus Jan Finney at Fresquez Productions – Clash in the Cage by KO (Kick to the Body) in Round 3.
On February 28, 2013, Holly Holm debuted in Bellator MMA versus Katie Merrill at Bellator 91. She won the fight by TKO (Punches) in Round 2. This was her first and only match in the promotion.
On July 19, 2013, she won her fight versus Allanna Jones at Legacy Fighting Championship 21 by KO (Head Kick) in Round 2.
On October 11, 2013, Holly Holm won another fight in LFC versus Nikki Knudsen at Legacy Fighting Championship 24 by TKO (Kick to the Body and Knees) in Round 2.
On December 6, 2013, Holly Holm won her fight versus Angela Hayes at Fresquez Productions – Havoc by unanimous decision.
On April 4, 2014, she extended her winning series by another victory at Legacy Fighting Championship 30 versus Juliana Werner by TKO (Head Kick and Punches) in Round 5.
UFC career
On July 10, 2014, the media announced that Holm had signed a multi-fight deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
On February 28, 2015, Holly Holm made her debut in the UFC versus Raquel Pennington at the UFC 184 – Rousey vs. Zingano. She won the fight by a split decision.
On July 15, 2015, Holly Holm won another fight at the UFC versus Marion Reneau at the UFC Fight Night 71 – Mir vs. Duffee by unanimous decision.
On November 14, 2015, Holly Holm faced the defending women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey at UFC 193. She won the fight by KO (Head Kick and Punches) in Round 2 and became the UFC bantamweight champion. By winning the title, she became the first person to win championships in both boxing and MMA.
On March 5, 2016, Holly Holm was scheduled to defend her title versus Miesha Tate at UFC 196. She won the fight by Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in Round 5.
On July 23, 2016, Holly Holm faced Valentina Shevchenko at the UFC on Fox 20 – Holm vs. Shevchenko and registered her second loss in the professional MMA. She lost by unanimous decision.
On February 11, 2017, she faced Germaine de Randamie at the UFC 208 – Holm vs. De Randamie for the inaugural women’s featherweight championship. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.
On June 17, 2017, Holly Holm won her fight versus Bethe Correia at the UFC Fight Night 111 – Holm vs. Correia by KO (Head Kick and Punch) in Round 3.
On December 30, 2017, she challenged Cristiane Justino (Cris Cyborg) at the UFC 219 – Cyborg vs. Holm for the UFC Featherweight Championship but lost by unanimous decision.
On June 9, 2018, Holly Holm won her fight versus Megan Anderson at the UFC 225 – Whittaker vs. Romero 2 by unanimous decision.
On July 6, 2019, Holly Holm lost to Amanda Nunes at the UFC 239 – Jones vs. Santos by TKO (Head Kick and Punches) in Round 1.
On January 18, 2020, she won her fight versus Raquel Pennington at the UFC 246 – McGregor vs. Cerrone by unanimous decision.
On October 3, 2020, Holly Holm won her fight versus Irene Aldana at the UFC on ESPN 16 – Holm vs. Aldana by unanimous decision.