Every forum is filled with people talking about who is going to fight Ronda Rousey next or who will be her hardest test in the UFC. I am surprised no one has really brought up Holly Holm. She still seems far from Rousey's level right now, but even in her Bellator squash fight, I was really impressed by her kicks. She is already probably the best striker out there other than Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, plus they could promote the fight as an Olympic medalist against a real boxing world champion. Why are more people not talking about this? -- Eric from Miami
Since then, Holm chose to focus on her professional boxing career, fighting three times at her preferred venue -- the Route 66 Casino in Albuquerque, N.M -- before facing Merrill on Feb. 28. Meanwhile, Rousey also competed three times but under a considerably brighter spotlight than Holm: twice as a Strikeforce headliner and once as one-half of the first-ever female main event on a UFC pay-per-view.
With all that has happened since Holm last stepped into the cage, it is not surprising that she has flown under the radar in MMA circles. The UFC has only recently begun importing talent into its women’s bantamweight division in earnest, and at the moment, fantasy matchmakers have been focused on the likes of Miesha Tate (again) or Sara McMann as potential Octagon opponents for Rousey. However, the timing could not have been more perfect for Holm to resume her dalliance with MMA, as her appearance in the Bellator cage came less than a week after “Rowdy” submitted Liz Carmouche in the historic UFC 157 headliner.
Interest in women’s MMA is now at an all-time high, and as a result, it is only now that Holm seems to be receiving some attention as a potential Rousey adversary. Prior to Holm’s triumph over Merrill at Bellator 91, Melissa Segura of Sports Illustrated touched on the subject during an interview with the fighter and her team at Jackson’s MMA. The wise response then from her longtime trainer, Mike Winkeljohn, in regards to a potential showdown with the Armbar Queen? “Not yet.”
In terms of technical striking, there is probably no one under Zuffa contract with the skill level of Holm, who is equally lethal with both hands and feet. The flipside of the coin is that “The Preacher’s Daughter” has yet to face opposition who can take her down and hold her there. Still, the visibly smaller Merrill was able to score a couple short-lived takedowns and temporarily slow Holm’s rhythm with clinches. Yes, those moments were fleeting at best, but even minor details are worth examining if Holm’s destiny includes a date with an Olympic judoka.
In a perfect world, for MMA devotees at least, the road to Rousey would begin for Holm with a two-fight or better stint in the Invicta Fighting Championships, where thoughtful matchmaking would be able to provide an accurate assessment of the world champion boxer’s deficiencies. Assuming Holm passed those tests, her transition to the UFC would be a windfall for the promotion. Currently there are few women who can match Rousey in terms of physical stature and athletic prowess. Holm is one of them.
There are no guarantees that Holm ever elects to go that route. Early last week, the Albuquerque Journal reported that Holm will return to the boxing ring on May 11 to face Mary McGee. After that, expect the New Mexican to take some time off, as she is currently going straight from one fight camp to another. When forecasting Holm’s MMA potential, it is always important to remember how lucrative it is for her to fight in her home state. Critics will say that Holm is afraid to travel, but that simply is not true. It just doesn’t make fiscal sense for Holm to go out of state when she consistently sells out venues in the Land of Enchantment. A trip to Kansas City for an Invicta bout could very well result in a significant pay cut.
With the proper seasoning and preparation, Holm could very well be Rousey’s most significant test. Whether that happens remains to be seen, but rushing such a matchup would be irresponsible for all parties involved.
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