If Holly Holm was granted a shot at Ronda Rousey’s bantamweight title, she wouldn’t pass up the opportunity.
“If they throw me in with Ronda, awesome,” Holm said on Tuesday’s edition of The MMA Hour.
But that said, Holm suffers no delusions on where she stands in her mixed martial arts career. The decorated former boxing champion has just seven pro MMA fights on her resume and will make her UFC debut against Raquel Pennington on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas at UFC 181.
“I’m never the one who makes the call,” the Jackson’s MMA fighter said. “I always want more time, because I’m never going to be perfect. There’s always time.”
Holm used her boxing career as an example. Even as a multi-time world champion with 38 fights to her credit, she felt like she still had room for improvement.
“I have been boxing forever, and my jab needs so much work. I’m constantly learning, I never feel like yes I’m ready. However, if you give me a fight, I’m going to believe in myself.”
Speaking of working on striking, much has been made about Rousey’s improved striking skills as her title reign has progressed, as she’s involved from a world-class joduka to a well-rounded martial artist.
As someone who boasts the sweet science as the strongest part of her resume, Holm says she’s impressed with the way the champ’s fistic skills have progressed.
“With Alexis Davis … she hit her clean with that overhand and that’s what knocked her out,” Holm said. “She was supposed to bring her down and finish her, so I was very impressed with it. She landed a very clean shot, it wasn’t lucky, I thought it was a good, clean shot she hit her with, right on the jaw. Then she also had the knee to the ribs of [Sara] McMann, so obviously, she is getting a very well-rounded game, and she has cleaned house. She has cleaned house. Anyone who gets in there with her doesn’t give her a hard time. She’s definitely great and I think she’s very good and I admire her for what she’s been able to accomplish. Hopefully I’ll be able to step in the cage with her eventually, and have that honor of fighting with her.”
Rousey’s level of dominance is a big part of the reason why so many have speculated on Holm’s potential against Rousey, despite the potential challenger’s relative lack of experience.
No one understands this better than Holm herself.
“I just want one fight at a time for right now,” Holm said. “I don’t want to look too far ahead, I have Raquel Pennington in front of me, but always make sure I watch Ronda’s fights though, don’t get me wrong.”