Holly Holm, despite how uncommon it may be, is unconcerned with being the underdog at UFC 300. What are the reasons that Holms doesn’t have any concerns with being the underdog? Continue reading to find out!
When Holly defeated Ronda Rousey to capture the championship in 2015, the former women’s bantamweight champion pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. Rousey had a 9-1 advantage at the time.
Against two-time Olympic judo gold medallist Kayla Harrison, who is making her promotional debut after spending the majority of her career in the PFL, where she won two $1 million titles at 155 pounds, Holms will be the underdog at UFC 300 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Harrison, who has only ever competed at featherweight, is about a 4-1 favourite over Holm. Harrison has never fought at bantamweight.
Holm remarked at Wednesday’s UFC 300 media day that there was nothing new there. She stated that she had been the underdog more than once.
It is accurate. Holm has faced defeat in the past. However, she hasn’t been in this situation since her bout against Amanda Nunes, the previous dual champion, in 2019. Since then, she has favored herself in each of her five fights, continuing a trend that began early in her career.
Former professional boxing champion Holm hinted that supporting Harrison could come as a surprise.
Holm stated that many people perceive her opponent as strong and dominant, but she pointed out that her opponent hadn’t faced anyone like her, emphasizing that as the bottom line.
Cris Cyborg, the reigning Bellator women’s featherweight champion, was called in by Holm to prepare for Harrison. Harrison and Cyborg had been mentioned for a while. As soon as Bellator was acquired by the PFL, it was assumed the pairing was finally set.
However, Harrison’s decision to join the UFC and leave the PFL virtually put an end to the chance of that clash. Thus, there were some questions about Holm’s training with Cyborg, against whom she lost a decision in 2017.
Holm mentioned that she could see herself training with her teammate again. She expressed appreciation for the opportunity to train with another champion who shared similar values and work ethic. Holm noted that her teammate was committed to being a positive training partner focused on the mutual goal of preparing for the fight. They discussed what they had observed about Harrison and appreciated having Cris present during training sessions as she had already conducted significant scouting for the fight.
Do you think her not being concerned with being the underdog at UFC 300 portrays her as an uncommitted fighter? Or do you agree with the reasoning she gave for feeling that way? Do let us know about your thoughts in the comment section!
