There are several key differences between former women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and the current women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm. Rousey is a judoka whose strength lies in her throws and submission game. Holm is a stand-up fighter who uses her boxing pedigree and movement to set up thunderous knockout kicks. Rousey refused to fight the 145-pound Cris Cyborg at any weight other than 135.
Holm? Whatever. Via MMA Fighting:
“I’m not against options for other fights,” Holm said. “I don’t know how high I would go. I have fought at heavier weights in boxing. It kind of changes things with MMA, because there’s wrestling. Boxing, I think, is a little different, because you’re not dealing with somebody’s strength and weight on you as far as wrestling and grappling. But I do feel like I’m a bigger 135er. I don’t know. I guess I would just have to see if whatever would unfold if that was an option.”
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“I love Cyborg,” Holm said. “She’s awesome. I finally got to get to know her this year. Whatever Cyborg wants to do, I support it. You want to stay at a heavier weight, you don’t want to go to 140? Whatever she wants to do, I’m all about it. I haven’t really thought about it too much.”
As a boxer, Holly Holm fought in divisions as high as 158 pounds and is one of the biggest bantamweights in her division. She has declared she would be willing to fight Cyborg at any weight in the past, but since winning the women’s bantamweight belt, those declarations have gained some extra weight. Her rematch with Rousey will be one of the biggest fights not just for women’s MMA, but in the history of the whole sport. If she wins, a superfight with Cyborg as a follow up would make sense.
In comparison, Rousey has spent the last four years demanding the massive Cris Cyborg make the cut down to bantamweight to face her. She has refused a catchweight fight at 140 pounds, saying the challenger should meet the champion at her weight. After Ronda lost her belt, Cyborg said she was done with trying to make 135. “I’m not chasing her anymore,” Cyborg explained. “After all, didn’t she say, ‘You come to the champ?’ I have been a world champion for 10 years!”
(Via MMA Fighting)