“The Preacher’s Daughter” is no longer an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter.
Former UFC Bantamweight champion Holly Holm and UFC have agreed to part ways after 16 fights in the promotion, Holm’s long-time manager Lenny Fresquez told Ariel Helwani today (Mon., Jan. 13, 2024)
According to Helwani, Holm had two more fights left on her UFC contract but requested “a chance to explore other opportunities,” which the promotion was granted.
Breaking:
Holly Holm has parted ways with the UFC and is now a free agent.
She had two fights left on her deal, asked to explore other opportunities and the UFC obliged.
She plans on continuing to fight and is open to MMA or boxing, her long-time agent Lenny Fresquez tells…
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 14, 2025
Holm, 43, made her UFC debut against Raquel Pennington at UFC 184, winning a split decision and then, five months later, defeated Marion Reneau to earn a Bantamweight championship shot against Ronda Rousey … and we all know what happened next.
At UFC 193, the most attended UFC event in the company’s history at the time, Holm slept Rousey with a head kick heard around the world to win the title (watch highlights).
Holm’s time as champion was short-lived, as four months later, at UFC 196, Miesta Tate strangled “The Preacher’s Daughter” to claim gold (watch it).
Following her title loss, Holm went 5-7-1 in the promotion, losing to nothing but elite competition such as Valentina Shevchenko, Cris Cyborg, and Amanda Nunes. She also challenged for a UFC title three more times (twice at Featherweight).
There is no doubt that Holm will enter the UFC Hall of Fame at some point. As for what’s next, maybe she will go to PFL and challenge Larissa Pacheco or Cyborg again.
She could also return to boxing and fight … Elle Brooke?