UFC Releases Former Champion And Future Hall-Of-Famer
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 03: UFC president Dana White is seen on stage during the UFC 272 press ... [+] conference on March 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLCUFC President Dana White said he wanted Holly Holm to retire. Holm doesnt want to retire, so the promotion has granted her release, per The Uncrowneds Ariel Helwani.Holm, 43, still had two fights left on her UFC contract, but per Helwani, she asked to become a free agent so she could pursue other opportunities.Holms agent, Lenny Fresquez, says his client is open to a return to boxing or fighting in other MMA organizations.LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 21: Holly Holm prepares to fight Ketlen Vieira of Brazil in a bantamweight ... [+] bout during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on May 21, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLCDuring Holms legendary career in the UFC, she tallied an 8-7 record with one no contest. Holm won the UFC womens bantamweight championship in November 2015 when she scored a head-kick KO win over Ronda Rousey in one of the biggest upsets in MMA history.MORE FOR YOUMELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 15: (R-L) Holly Holm kicks Ronda Rousey in their UFC women's ... [+] bantamweight championship bout during the UFC 193 event at Etihad Stadium on November 15, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesHolm lost the title to Miesha Tate in her first defense, but over the course of her career, she fought a whos who of womens MMA. Here is a list of the top fighters and former champions Holm faced and her record against them:Raquel Pennington: 2-0Ronda Rousey: 1-0Miesha Tate: 0-1Marion Reneau: 1-0Valentina Shevchenko: 0-1Bethe Correia: 1-0Irene Aldana: 1-0Germaine de Randamie: 0-1Ketlen Vieira: 0-1Cris Cyborg: 0-1Amanda Nunes: 0-1Kayla Harrison: 0-1Besides Julianna Pea, Holm has fought every woman who ever wore the UFC womens bantamweight crown. Shes also fought all three of the former UFC womens featherweight champions.Quite honestly, many will say she was robbed in her unanimous decision loss to de Randamie in 2017. Had that decision gone Holms way, she would hold double-champion distinction.The accomplishment Holm has that we may never see again is her status as the only person to be a legitimate world champion in both boxing and MMA.Based on that and a few of her legendary wins, Holm should be a lock for the UFC Hall of Fame.Holms UFC career didnt end on a strong note. She was easily defeated by Harrison via second-round submission at UFC 300 in April and has been inactive since the defeat.At 43, Holm doesnt have a ton of fighting ahead of her. She is an accomplished boxer, but the game has changed since she boxed full-time. Its tough to imagine her stepping into the ring and defeating fighters like Amanda Serrano, Mikaela Mayer, or even Claressa Shields, but theres a chance she could make a solid paycheck against those women.ALBUQUERQUE, NM - JUNE 10: IBA & WBAN Junior welterweight champion Holly Holm (l) (29-1-3) battles ... [+] Victoria Cisneros (5-11-2) at Route 66 Casino's Legends Theater on June 10, 2011 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Photo by Steve Snowden/Getty Images)Getty ImagesHolm trained with Shields when the latter was preparing for MMA, so theyre familiar with one another.Holm could potentially sign with the Professional Fighters League to compete as a featherweight, or she could look at the Global Fight League, where they are embracing older fighters on their roster.Its tough to say which route makes more sense, but it depends on Holms goals. If she is looking to maximize the time she has left in combat sports while collecting the biggest paydays, moving to boxing might be the best option.However, if she aspires to capture more championship gold, the GFL could be an attractive option for Holm.No matter what, its been a strong run for the former champion.
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