Holly Holm is interested in big fights, whether that’s in boxing
or MMA. | Getty/UFC
The finish line appears to be in sight for Holly
Holm.
Holm, who is coming off a controversial split-decision loss to
Stephanie Han in a boxing match under the Most Valuable Promotions
banner last weekend, gave a rough timeline for the end of her
combat sports career during an appearance on “The
Ariel Helwani Show.”
I don’t know, but if I’m being really honest, I want big fights.
I’m not saying that all of them are big fights for a title.
..Within the year and I’m done,” Holm said. “That’s where I’m at. I
definitely want them to be fights that people want to see. I want
it to be something big like that. And that’s where I’m at, whether
it be MMA or boxing.”
Holm confirmed that likely means only one or two more fights total
before the
Jackson-Wink MMA standout calls it a career.
Holm hasn’t competed in MMA since UFC 300, when she suffered a
second-round submission loss to future 135-pound champion Kayla
Harrison in April 2024. More recently, “The Preacher’s
Daughter” has gone 1-2 in boxing and also competed in wrestling
under the Real American Freestyle banner.
The Rousey Question
Holm entered MMA in 2011 as a multiple-time world champion in
boxing. She won her first nine outings, setting the stage for her
head-kick knockout of the previously undefeated Ronda
Rousey at UFC 193 in November 2015. Though Holm’s championship
reign was short lived, that victory propelled Holm to a new level
of stardom that has lingered for the rest of her career.
After Rousey returned with a victory over Gina Carano
at
Most Valuable Promotions “Rousey vs. Carano” on May 16, there
was some talk about a rematch with Holm. Rousey quickly dismissed
the notion, claiming that she is once again retired and that she
would “clean [Holm’s] clock” if they fought again. Holm says that
she’s always been open to the rematch, but she believes Rousey
feels differently.
“I don’t think that she really wants to, and I’m not even mad at
her for it,” Holm said. “I don’t want someone to get in there and
fight if they don’t want to actually fight. Because I want someone
who wants it.
“It’s never been because I said no. I 100% always said [if] she
wants a rematch. I’ll give it to her. And I have respect for her.
She was the dominant champion, and she is good. She just came back
and did her thing. She’s good at what she does.”