As her mixed martial arts career has progressed, Holly Holm
has proven herself to be far more than a one-dimensional
striker.
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When she entered the UFC, Holm was celebrated as a boxing world
champion who also had a background in kickboxing, and that was
reflected in her career-defining moment: a headkick knockout of
Ronda
Rousey to claim the bantamweight throne at UFC 193. Over time,
however, the Jackson-Wink MMA standout has gotten much better at
imposing her will in the clinch and on the mat.
That was quite evident in the UFC
on ESPN 43 co-main event, where “The Preacher’s Daughter”
overwhelmed Yana Santos
with clinchwork, takedowns and ground-and-pound in a lopsided
unanimous decision triumph. While one aspect of MMA will always be
her favorite, Holm admits gaining appreciation for other elements
of the sport over the years.
“I think my love will always be striking. I do have a newfound love
for kind of just the grind and the wrestling aspect of it and
grappling …You obviously enjoy it the more you know it,” Holm said
at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “When you’re first
learning any kind of grappling and jiu-jitsu, you’re like, ‘I don’t
even know what to do.’ Then when you start learning how to pass and
do what you want to do and impose your will it gets more fun. But
still in my heart, striking’s always what I enjoy the most.”
Holm’s ability to become more well-rounded has allowed her to stay
relevant in the UFC’s bantamweight division. Were it not for a
contentious split-decision setback against Ketlen
Vieira last May, Holm might could be in the midst of a
four-bout winning streak in the Octagon. Still, winning three out
of her last four — with other notable triumphs over the likes of
Raquel
Pennington and Irene
Aldana — keeps her right in the thick of things at 135 pounds.
She admits there isn’t necessarily a clear path for her to take
given her history in the weight class.
“I definitely feel there’s not many above me,” Holm said. “I’ve
fought Raquel
Pennington twice, so sometimes that doesn’t make sense.
However, if that’s the fight again, then, you know. But other than
that it’s [Julianna] Peña or the championship, I guess. But you
never know. Things change so much and you never know. I just want
to keep getting better in the gym and whatever they present is what
it’s going to be.”
It was revealed just prior to UFC on ESPN 43 that Holm recently
signed a new six-fight contract with the Las Vegas-based promotion.
Now 41 years old, Holm admits that her MMA career could conclude
with that deal.
“That’s very possible,” Holm said. “I don’t ever like to put a
timeline on myself, but I definitely know that I’m not like 25 or
30 anymore. I still feel very healthy right now. I definitely know
retirement is sooner than it was 10 years ago, but I’m not ready to
do it right yet.”
At this point, Holm doesn’t have a set date in mind for her next
Octagon appearance.
“I’m healthy right now. I didn’t get any injuries in the fight.
It’s more of a mental break to not have a fight scheduled,” she
said. “But I’m sure in two weeks I’ll be bored and be like, ‘What’s
my purpose?’ So we’ll see what happens. I don’t have like a set
timeline.”