Ronda Rousey announced on Friday morning that her next fight will be against former boxing champion Holly Holm.
Rousey praised Holm for her long list of accomplishments during an appearance on “Good Morning America.”
“January 2nd I’ll be fighting Holly Holm, who is actually the most decorated striker we have in all of Mixed Martial Arts,” the UFC women’s bantamweight champion said. “She is definitely my biggest challenge to date so I’m super excited about it.”
Holm has held several welterweight titles in boxing and was considered by many to be the best female welterweight fighter of all time. She is 33-2-3 in her boxing career and a perfect 9-0 since making the switch to MMA. Holm is 2-0 since joining the UFC and both of her fights went the distance.
Rousey, who is used to beating opponents inside of one minute, said she always prepares for a much longer fight.
“I prepare for a 5-round war every time I get in there. No one’s easy until after you beat them,” she said. “With Holly Holm, she’s the type that is ready to go 12 boxing rounds. She’s not the average chick that I would fight. She’s the best striker I’ve ever fought and striking is something I learned much later in my career. I don’t ever expect fights to be easy and fast.”
Rousey clearly has a lot more respect for Holm than she did for her last opponent, who lasted a little over 30 seconds in this brutal beatdown.
The fight is scheduled to take place Jan. 2 at UFC 195 in Las Vegas.
