Holly Holm: MMA and boxing icon on why there’s even more to come before the long-awaited return of the UFC | News News

Ahead of her return to the Octagon against Ketlen Viera at UFC Fight Night 206 after a 19-month layoff due to injury and illness, boxing and MMA icon Holly Holm tells Sky Sports why she feels she is still getting better and has much more to enter an already stellar career

Holly Holm has been using her 19 months out of the Octagon wisely as she prepares to return to the UFC this weekend.

Considering everything Holly Holm has already accomplished in a 20+ year career in both boxing and mixed martial arts, it may come as a surprise to hear her say that she still believes she can even get better.

Her time in the sweet science saw her win world titles at three different weights while compiling a professional record of 33(9)-2-3 and since stepping into the octagon for the first time 11 years ago, she has once again scaled the heights, with a 14-5. record including that memorable win against Ronda Rousey to reclaim the UFC women’s bantamweight crown.

Scarily though, to her opponents at least, Holm insists she is still improving and has much more to come as the 40-year-old prepares to make her long-awaited return against Ketlen Viera in the title clash at UFC 206 fight night in Las Vegas on Saturday.

“I think I’ve gotten a little bit better everywhere,” Holm said. sky sports. “I think I’ve tried to dig into things and pay attention to detail, just to refine certain things that I was already making progress on and then also be learning new things.

“It’s a never-ending thing, you’ll never learn everything in this sport and there are always things to work on. I’m constantly at work.”

“If you ever think you’re perfect, that’s the day you’ll never get better. If you think you’re done, then you’re not going to get any better. I always want to be like a sponge.” And I’m still learning as I go.

Holm is re-entering the Octagon following a 19-month forced layoff due to illness and injury that has seen her unable to build on a dominant unanimous decision victory over Irene Aldana in ufc fighting island 4 in October 2020.

 

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Current UFC fighter and former multiple time world boxing champion Holly Holm is excited by the prospect of returning to boxing and facing Katie Taylor, but is currently focused on her MMA career.

Even though potential bouts against reigning UFC women’s bantamweight champions Julianna Pena and Norma Dumont fell through as a result of those setbacks, the American has had no trouble staying focused during the longest non-fight stretch of her career, using that time wisely and keeping in mind that patience will bring its own rewards.

“I know this is my life, this is my passion, this is my goals and this is who I am,” Holm said. “I knew it was just a little time off and that I would do it again, and I have still been training during this time.

“I’ve gotten better and better over time, it’s only been a while since I’ve been able to compete. I’m excited to finally be here and to be in fight week and to be able to put all of this work to the test.

“I’ve been pretty lucky throughout my career that I haven’t had to take a lot of time off, but you have to deal with what comes your way and that’s what I’ve had to do. I’m here, I’m ready and I’m excited to fight. Saturday”.

I’ve gotten better and better over time, it’s only been a while since I’ve been able to compete. I’m excited to finally be here and to be in fight week and to be able to put all this work to the test.

holly holm

Although MMA remains his focus today, Holm hasn’t ruled out a return to the boxing ring in the future as well, as he loves the idea of ​​proving his mastery of various combat styles by being able to alternate between the two.

A showdown with undefeated Irish boxing superstar Katie Taylor, who retained her WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF lightweight belts via split decision victory in an epic fight with Amanda Serrano last month, It has been raised as a possibility, but while Holm intrigues it is little more than a possibility at present.

“It’s just ideas floating around,” Holm said. “I’m so focused on my fights right now with MMA, but it would be great to come back and fight.

“I was a three-weight champion, and it would be awesome to get a fourth because her weight is 135 and that’s been my entire MMA career.

They are just ideas that are floating around. I am so focused on my fights right now with MMA, but it would be great to come back and fight.

Holly Holm on a possible return to boxing against Katie Taylor

“Boxing, I fought 140, 147 and 154. It’s exciting to think about, but I’m so focused on my MMA fights now, that’s where I stay.”

Holm, of course, has already caused a stir in MMA and beyond by announcing herself with the devastating kick that ended Rousey’s reign as previously undefeated Octagon queen in 2015.

Seven years later and still ranked No. 2 in the UFC women’s bantamweight division, not to mention No. 8 in the women’s pound-for-pound rankings, Holm reckons she may never make the same kind of statement to the rest of the world. However, she still has her sights set on regaining the title from Pena and she knows where she could lead the win over Viera on Saturday.

“I don’t think the element of surprise will ever be the same again,” Holm said. “The big kick that the whole world got to see and shocked the world – never again will there be such an impact.

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Former boxing and UFC champion Holly Holm thinks Claressa Shields’ fight with Savannah Marshall will be fun to watch.

“There’s no way you can do that and that’s fine. That makes that moment special, but I still think I can show people a lot about how I can evolve as a well-rounded martial artist.

“A win over Ketlen, to me, is just a big win anyway. The biggest fight of your life is the one in front of you because every fight is the one that will open whatever door there may be after that.”

“The stakes are always high in every fight, I don’t care if it’s for a title or not. This is as important as any other fight, and I want to win as much as any other time.”

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