Sherdog’s Top 10: Female Mixed Martial Artists

7. Holly Holm

It has been a rough few months for “The Preacher’s Daughter.” She went from the top of the mountain as UFC women’s bantamweight champion to surrendering her title in the span of four months. Despite her current two-fight losing streak, Holm has followed a brilliant boxing career that saw her claim world championships in multiple weight classes by making a successful move to MMA.

Holm’s pedigree, talent and work ethic drew the attention of the UFC, where back-to-back wins over Raquel Pennington and Marion Reneau moved her record to 9-0 and earned her a shot at then-undefeated champion Ronda Rousey. Most thought Rousey would add Holm’s name to her list of victims when they met at UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia. Holm instead carved up the polarizing champion and knocked her senseless with a second-round head kick in one of the most memorable upsets in MMA history.

The Jackson-Wink MMA rep’s reign did not last long, however, as she lost the bantamweight title to Miesha Tate at UFC 196. There, she was rendered unconscious by a fifth-round rear-naked choke in a fight most felt she was winning. More recently, Holm was outpointed in a unanimous decision defeat to multiple-time muay Thai world champion Valentina Shevchenko in the UFC on Fox 20 main event. “The Preacher’s Daughter” seems determined to return to the top, but as she approaches her 35th birthday, one can only wonder how long the window of opportunity will stay open.

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