Holly Holm is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Ultimate
Fighting Championship bantamweight division. She is the current UFC
Bantamweight Champion. Holm is also a former professional boxer and kickboxer.
She was a multiple-time world champion in boxing, defending her titles 18 times
in three weight classes, and was a two-time Ring magazine fighter of the
year. Her most notable win in mixed martial
arts occurred at UFC 193, in front of a record-breaking crowd for a UFC event in
Melbourne, when she captured the bantamweight title and gave Ronda Rousey
her first loss in the sport. The fight is considered one of the biggest upsets
in the history of sports. Holm is the first person to win
championships in both boxing and mixed martial arts. She is the consensus #1
female bantamweight fighter in the world. Fight Matrix also lists her as
the #1 pound-for-pound female fighter in the world, while Sherdog lists her at
#2, and ESPN at #3. Holm is the only female fighter to be listed in Sports
Illustrated's mixed gender pound-for-pound ranking at #10. UFC
fighter Jon Jones has called Holm the greatest female athlete in the history
of combat sports. Outside of MMA, she appears in the 2016 feature film Fight
Valley. Early life
Holly Holm was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and grew up in nearby Bosque
Farms, the youngest of three children. Her father, Roger, is a Church of Christ
preacher — as a fighter, Holly would later be nicknamed "The Preacher's
Daughter" — and her mother, Tammy, is a massage therapist. Holm is of Irish and
Swedish descent. Growing up, Holm played soccer and
participated in gymnastics, swimming and diving. Her parents divorced shortly
before she graduated from Manzano High School in 2000; after graduation, she
studied for a year at the University of New Mexico.
Amateur kickboxing career Holm's path to a career in boxing and
kickboxing began with aerobics classes. Her cardio-kickboxing instructor was
Mike Winkeljohn, who soon saw Holm's potential as a fighter and began
training her. In the Fall of 2001, at age 20, she competed in the IKF USA
National Amateur Championship Tournament in Kansas City, MO. After winning the
first round of the tournament by TKO in just 34 seconds, she won the second and
final round by unanimous decision to claim the national title in the
international rules adult women's welterweight division, a victory that
would mark her last kickboxing appearance before her pro debut. Her
overall amateur kickboxing record stood at 6–0–2.
Professional boxing career Holm has held several welterweight
boxing titles, been highly regarded as one of the best female welterweights in
the world, and is considered among the best of all time, by some. She also has
been named Ring Magazine female Fighter of the Year, twice in consecutive years
in 2005 and 2006. She is a big draw in her home town of Albuquerque, having all
but 3 of her fights there and just one of her fights outside of her home state
of New Mexico. In June 2008 she became the undisputed
welterweight champion and holder of belts from 140 to 154 by defeating
former champ Mary Jo Sanders by decision. They fought a rematch on
October 17, 2008, at the Palace of Auburn Hills in suburban Detroit, which
ended in a draw. On December 2, 2011, Holm took on
knockout artist Anne Sophie Mathis of France for the vacant IBF female and
WBAN welterweight titles. Holm was badly beaten by the stronger Mathis without
the referee interfering, even going into the canvas without a count. She finally
lost by knockout in the 7th round, which would be dubbed the upset of the year in
women's boxing. The two rematched on June 15, 2012 for Mathis's WBF female,
IBF female, and WBAN welterweight titles. Holm took a unanimous decision
win over Mathis, becoming the new champion and avenging her earlier KO
loss. Mixed martial arts career
= Early career = Holm made her mixed martial arts debut
on March 4, 2011 against Christina Domke at an event promoted by her boxing
promoter Lenny Fresquez. She co-headlined the card with Jackson's
Submission Fighting teammate Keith Jardine. Holm won the fight via TKO in
the second round after her opponent was unable to continue due to leg kicks
inflicted by Holm. Holm returned to MMA on September 9,
2011 at Fresquez Productions: Clash in the Cage against Strikeforce veteran Jan
Finney. She defeated Finney by TKO in the third round.
= Bellator MMA = On February 28, 2013, Holm made her
Bellator MMA debut against Katie Merrill at Bellator 91 in Rio Rancho, New
Mexico. Holm won the bout via TKO in the second round.
Holm announced that she would retire from boxing after her May 11, 2013
boxing match against Mary McGee so that she can fully concentrate on her MMA
career. The message came as a punctuation in the negotiations to
arrange a title-battle between Holm and the Norwegian champion Cecilia Brækhus.
Holm went on to defeat McGee via unanimous decision, for her boxing
retirement bout. = Legacy Fighting Championship =
On July 19, 2013, Holm faced Allanna Jones at Legacy Fighting Championship
21. She won the fight by head kick knockout in the second round.
Holm was expected to face Erica Paes at Legacy Fighting Championship 24 on
October 11, 2013. However, Paes was removed from the card and Holm instead
faced Nikki Knudsen. Holm won the fight via TKO due to a body kick and knees in
round two. On December 6, 2013, Holm faced Angela
Hayes at Fresquez Productions: Havoc. She won the fight via unanimous
decision. On April 4, 2014, Holm faced Juliana
Werner for the inaugural Legacy FC Women's Bantamweight Championship. She
won the bout and title via TKO in the fifth round due to a head kick and
punches. = Ultimate Fighting Championship =
On July 10, 2014, it was announced that Holm had signed a multi-fight deal with
the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Later in an interview with MMA Junkie,
Holm's manager Lenny Fresquez disclosed that Holm's contract is for five fights.
Holm was expected to make her debut at UFC 181 against Raquel Pennington.
However, on November 13, it was announced that Holm was forced to pull
out due to an undisclosed injury. The two fighters faced each other at UFC
184. Holm won the bout by split decision.
Holm faced Marion Reneau on July 15, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 71. Holm won the
fight by unanimous decision. Bantamweight championship
In her highest profile MMA fight to date, Holm faced defending women's
bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey before a record-setting crowd in the
main event of UFC 193 on November 14, 2015. Despite being a massive betting
underdog, Holm controlled a majority of the bout with her superior striking and
defended all of Rousey's takedowns. The second fighter to take Rousey past the
first round, she won the fight via knockout in the second with a head kick,
ending Rousey's undefeated streak and three-year reign as champion.
Holm was also awarded her first "Fight of the Night" and "Performance of the
Night" bonus awards. By winning the title, she became the first person to
win championships in both boxing and MMA. Following the bout, UFC fighter Jon
Jones said he thought Holm was "already the G.O.A.T. of women's combat sports".
Her hometown, Albuquerque, New Mexico, proclaimed November "Holly Holm Month".
A rematch with Ronda Rousey is targeted as a main event for UFC 200 on July 9,
2016. Fighting style
Holm employs frequent lateral movement while working stiff jabs to an
opponent's head. When standing within the pocket, she often waits to attack
with counter-strikes, usually employing a straight left hand. Holm is also known
for her punching combinations, typically done while her opponents are against the
cage. Former boxer Ana Julaton has described
Holm as a "natural mover", noting her footwork as an asset in setting up
strikes. At UFC 193, Ronda Rousey took several blows while struggling to close
the distance against Holm. Holm uses a variety of kicking
techniques, often targeting the body with a fast side kick, pushing back a
rush with a low oblique kick, and attacking the head with a left high
kick. In popular culture
Holm is one of several boxers photographed by artist Delilah Montoya
and profiled in the publication Women Boxers : The New Warriors. Holm appears
in the 2016 feature film Fight Valley. Championships and accomplishments
First person, male or female, to win boxing world championships and an MMA
championship. = Boxing =
Overall 16 title defenses won at three different
weight classes World Boxing Federation
WBF Female World Light Welterweight Championship
WBF Female World Welterweight Championship
2012 Female Fighter of the Year 2012 Female Fight of the Year vs. Anne
Sophie Mathis on June 15 Women Boxing Archive Network
WBAN World Welterweight Championship WBAN World Junior Welterweight
Championship WBAN World Junior Middleweight
Championship 2012 Biggest Comeback of the Year
2011 Fight of the Year vs. Anne Sophie Mathis on December 2
2010 Fighter of the Year 2009 Most Accomplished of the Year
2008 Highest Achievements of the Year 2007 Fighter of the Year
2007 Most Improved Boxer of the Year 2006 Most Improved Boxer of the Year
2005 Hottest Rising Star of the Year 2005 Upset of the Year vs. Christy
Martin on September 16 World Boxing Council
WBC Female World Welterweight Championship
NABF Female Light Welterweight Championship
Global Boxing Union GBU World Welterweight Championship
Women's International Boxing Association WIBA World Light Welterweight
Championship WIBA World Welterweight Championship
International Female Boxers Association IFBA World Welterweight Championship
IFBA World Light Middleweight Championship
2006 Fighter of the Year World Boxing Association
WBA Female World Welterweight Championship
International Boxing Association IBA Female World Welterweight
Championship IBA Female World Light Welterweight
Championship AwakeningFighters.com
2012 AOCA / Awakening Outstanding Contribution Award
BadLeftHook.com 2012 Female Comeback Fighter of the Year
BoxRec Highest ranked female boxer in automated
all-time pound-for-pound rankings at the time of her retirement from boxing. By
the time of winning her UFC championship she dropped to #2 in pound-for-pound
rankings but still was #1 in welterweight
The Ring 2006 Female Fighter of the Year
2005 Female Fighter of the Year New Mexico Boxing
2013 Hall of Fame Inductee 2010 Fighter of the Year
2009 Fighter of the Year 2008 Fighter of the Year
2007 Fighter of the Year 2006 Fighter of the Year
2005 Fighter of the Year Albuquerque Sports Hall of Fame
2005 Female Athlete of the Year = Kickboxing =
International Kickboxing Federation IKF/Ringside 2001 USA National Amateur
International Rules Welterweight Championship
= Mixed martial arts = Ultimate Fighting Championship
UFC Bantamweight Championship Fight of the Night vs. Ronda Rousey
Performance of the Night vs. Ronda Rousey
Legacy Fighting Championships Legacy FC Women's Bantamweight
Championship WMMA Press Association
2013 Knockout of the Year vs. Allanna Jones on July 19
Bleacher Report 2013 WMMA Knockout of the Year vs.
Allanna Jones on July 19 BloodyElbow.com
2013 WMMA Knockout of the Year vs. Allanna Jones on July 19
AwakeningFighters.com 2013 WMMA Knockout of the Year vs.
Allanna Jones on July 19 ULTMMA.com
2013 Prospect of the Year Inside MMA
2013 Rising Star of the Year Bazzie Award
FightBooth.com 2013 Lady Violence Award
MMAJunkie.com 2015 November Knockout of the Month vs.
Ronda Rousey Professional boxing record
Kickboxing record Mixed martial arts record
Filmography = Television =
= Film = Personal life
Holm has close relationships with her parents and brothers. Her father has
never missed attending any of her fights, and for years assisted in her
corner during her boxing matches. She and her father are partners in a real
estate company. In 2012, she married Jeff Kirkpatrick,
who is also from Albuquerque. See also
List of current UFC fighters List of female mixed martial artists
References External links
Official website Holly Holm at Awakening Fighters
Holly Holm at Legacy Fighting Championship
Professional boxing record for Holly Holm from BoxRec
Professional MMA record for Holly Holm from Sherdog
Holly Holm at the Internet Movie Database