Women's boxing standout and undefeated mixed martial artist Holly Holm has signed a deal with the UFC, but in all likelihood won't get the next crack at Ronda Rousey's UFC Women's bantamweight title. That's expected to go to MMA legend Gina Carano--and Holm's okay with that.
"Carano has been on the big show before, so she can handle the pressure," Holm said.
Rousey would "bend over backwards" for fight with Carano
"There are a lot of girls who have been working hard for a shot who might deserve it a little more than someone who has been out that long, but Carano has put a lot of time in before. She's earned her spot in certain ways. Who am I to say Carano is undeserving of an opportunity? I'll let the promoter make those decisions."
Carano is 7-1 for her career, but her last fight was five years ago; in that fight she lost badly by TKO to Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino, another long-rumored opponent for Rousey. UFC president Dana White has openly stated Holm won't get an immediate title shot, but that Carano "should be signed by next week."
"Ronda's been very good to us, and if that's the fight she wants, then I'm going to try to get it done," White said. Rousey's been vocal about wanting to face Carano in the octagon. "She's one of the pioneers of the sport," Rousey said in April.
"She's the reason why I fight at all. I owe everything to her. I would bend over backwards to fight her. What am I going to do to her, make her run the gauntlet to fight me? I would show up at her house to fight her."
The influx of big names in women's mixed martial arts could be a much-needed boon for Rousey and the UFC. While Rousey's been a spectacular success and emerged as one of UFC's top draws, she's barely been challenged since becoming champion. There's no telling if either Carano or Holm will fare better, but they lend the aura of real threats.
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