Holly Holm

 ( Hollyholm.com Official Website ) 

Holly Rene Holm (born October 17, 1981) is an American professional Boxing and mixed martial artist. She previously competed in the women's Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is a former Women's Bantamweight Champion.

In boxing, Holm has been a multiple-time world champion, defending her titles 18 times in three weight classes, and a two-time Ring magazine fighter of the year (2005, 2006). She is ranked by BoxRec as the 5th greatest female professional boxer of all time, pound for pound.

Holm's most notable win in mixed martial arts (MMA) occurred at UFC 193 on November 15, 2015, in Melbourne, when she captured the bantamweight title and gave Ronda Rousey her first loss in the sport. According to ESPN, this fight is generally considered to be one of the biggest upsets in combat-sports history. She is the only fighter to have won a major world title in both professional boxing and mixed martial arts and Fight Matrix currently ranks her as the 17th greatest female fighter of all time, pound for pound.

Growing up, Holm played soccer and participated in gymnastics, human 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.

In September 2001, Holm won the championship title in the International Rules Adult Women's Welterweight Division at the International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) USA National Amateur Championship Tournament, held in Kansas City, Missouri. She fought two bouts in the tournament. She won the first by technical knockout at 34 seconds in the first round. She won the second by unanimous decision. This was Holm's last amateur competition. Her overall amateur kickboxing record is 6–0–2.

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 had 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 IBA 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 fought again on June 15, 2012, for Mathis's WBF female, IBA female, and WBAN welterweight titles. Holm took a unanimous decision to win over Mathis, becoming the new champion and avenging her earlier KO loss.

She challenged WBA female lightweight champion Stephanie Han at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on January 3, 2026. Holm lost by unanimous technical decision having been behind on all three ringside judges' scorecards when the fight was stopped in the seventh round due to a cut on her hairline caused by an accidental clash of heads.

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.

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.

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. Holm broke her left arm during the first round of the bout.

Holm was expected to make her debut at UFC 181 against Raquel Pennington. However, on November 13, 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 (29–28, 28–29, and 30–27).

Holm faced Marion Reneau on July 15, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 71. Holm won the fight by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–26, and 29–28).

Holm was also awarded her first "Fight of the Night" and "Performance of the Night" bonus awards (totalling $100,000). 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. (greatest of all time) of women's combat sports". Her hometown, Albuquerque, New Mexico, proclaimed November "Holly Holm Month". "November Proclaimed 'Holly Holm Month' in Albuquerque Following UFC 193 Win", Tristen Critchfield, Sherdog.com

In her first title defense, Holm lost to Miesha Tate in the fifth round on March 5, 2016, at UFC 196. After four rounds of back-and-forth fighting, Tate defeated Holm in the fifth with a rear-naked choke. Holm was strong in the first round of the fight standing up but was less effective grappling with Tate on the mat. After Tate took Holm down in the second round, Holm almost submitted to a guillotine choke but wriggled out just before the bell. In the fifth round, Tate scored another takedown and locked in another rear-naked choke. Holm refused to submit, was rendered unconscious, and the referee declared a technical submission.

Holm faced Valentina Shevchenko on July 23, 2016, at UFC on Fox 20. She lost the bout via unanimous decision.

In a return to the women's featherweight division, Holm challenged Cris Cyborg for the UFC Featherweight Championship on December 30, 2017, in the main event at UFC 219. She lost the fight via unanimous decision. This fight earned Holm her second Fight of the Night bonus.

Holm faced Megan Anderson on June 9, 2018, at UFC 225. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Holm was expected to face Aspen Ladd in a bantamweight bout on March 2, 2019, at UFC 235. However, on January 31, 2019, it was reported the pairing was no longer taking place at the event.

On March 20, it was reported that Holm signed a new six-fight contract with the UFC.

Holm faced Amanda Nunes for the Women's bantamweight championship on July 6, 2019, at UFC 239. She lost the fight via technical knockout in round one after being dropped by a head kick and finished with follow-up punches by Nunes.

Holm was scheduled to face Raquel Pennington on October 6, 2019, at UFC 243. However, on September 27, it was revealed that Holm withdrew from the bout due to a hamstring injury and the bout was cancelled. The pair was rescheduled to fight on January 18, 2020, at UFC 246. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Holm was scheduled to face Irene Aldana on August 1, 2020, at , but Aldana withdrew after testing positive for COVID-19. Holm was removed from the card as well and the pairing was rescheduled for October 4, 2020 at . Holm won the fight by a unanimous decision.

Holm was scheduled to face Julianna Peña on May 8, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 24. However, Holm was forced to withdraw from the bout, citing hydronephrosis.

Holm was scheduled to face Norma Dumont in a featherweight bout on October 16, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 195. However, Holm withdrew from the bout due to a knee injury, and she was replaced by Aspen Ladd.

Holm faced Ketlen Vieira on May 21, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 206. She lost the fight via controversial split decision. 18 out of 20 media outlets scored the bout as a win for Holm.

Having one bout left on her prevailing contract, Holm signed a new six-fight contract with the UFC in late 2022.

Holm faced Yana Santos on March 25, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 43. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Holm faced Mayra Bueno Silva on July 15, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 49 as a replacement for an injured Miesha Tate whom Bueno Silva was originally scheduled to face at UFC on ESPN 46. She lost the fight via ninja choke in the second round. In mid-October 2023, the bout was overturned to a No Contest after Bueno Silva was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for a positive pre-fight test.

Holm faced Kayla Harrison on April 13, 2024, at UFC 300. She lost the fight due to a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.

On January 13, 2025, Holm was released by the UFC at her request.

Cleveland, Ohio