Holly Holm pulled off the unthinkable at UFC 193’s main event in Melbourne, Australia on Saturday when she knocked out women’s bantamweight titleholder Ronda Rousey in the second round behind a vicious head kick.
SportsCenter confirmed the resul…
Holly Holm pulled off the unthinkable at UFC 193’s main event in Melbourne, Australia on Saturday when she knocked out women’s bantamweight titleholder Ronda Rousey in the second round behind a vicious head kick.
SportsCenter confirmed the result on Twitter:
UFC on FOX relayed highlights of Holm‘s historic victory:
The win kept Holm‘s perfect record (10-0) intact and spoiled Rousey‘s (12-1) all at the same time. It also cemented Holm‘s place in combat sports history, according to ESPN Stats & Info:
Holm‘s brilliant display was stunning—especially when placed in the context of Rousey‘s recent dominance. Not only had Rousey been taken past the first round just once in her career prior to UFC 193, but she hadn’t shown signs of vulnerability over the past couple of years.
Furthermore, Rousey‘s past four bouts lasted an average of 32.5 seconds as she dispelled opponents in decisive fashion time and again with no end to the run in sight.
But Holm was prepared, and it showed, per ESPN Stats & Info:
However, the 34-year-old champion made it clear she didn’t put in extra work just because she was squaring off against Rousey with a title on the line.
“I have not spent any more time in the gym than any other fight I’ve ever had in my life,” Holm said, according to MMAFighting.com on Twitter.
Holm was the aggressor from the start, and she imposed her will in resounding fashion. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto summed up the early proceedings:
Once Rousey was sent tumbling to the canvas of the Octagon, the MMA universe exploded in unison with takeaways from one of the most stunning UFC results of all time.
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Snowden chimed in with his take on the Rousey-Mike Tyson comparisons:
Elsewhere, SB Nation’s Chuck Mindenhall noted Holm‘s win could change the landscape of the sport:
And while plans still need to be sorted out, Snowden pegged one potential riser in the bantamweight ranks now that Rousey has been dethroned:
Based on Saturday’s developments and present career trajectories, a showdown between Holm and Miesha Tate could be a nice direction for the bantamweight division.
Tate ranks No. 1 among all women’s bantamweight fighters, per UFC.com, and her last loss came in a title bout against Rousey in December 2013. Since then, Tate has posted four straight wins to kick her career record up to 17-5.
While Rousey‘s reign at the top ended Saturday, a new era was spawned that could create even more drama in the months and years ahead.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Nobody gave Holly Holm much of a chance. She came into the fight as much as a 20-to-1 underdog. And then, she took less than six minutes to shock the world as she landed a second-round head kick knockout over Ronda Rousey to cap off UFC 193.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Nobody gave Holly Holm much of a chance. She came into the fight as much as a 20-to-1 underdog. And then, she took less than six minutes to shock the world as she landed a second-round head kick knockout over Ronda Rousey to cap off UFC 193.
UFC star Ronda Rousey surrendered her UFC bantamweight title to Holly Holm at UFC 193, and she didn’t escape Saturday’s bout unharmed as she was transported to the local hospital, according to ESPN.com’s Ramona Shelburne.
Continue for updates.
Rousey’s…
UFC star Ronda Rousey surrendered her UFC bantamweight title to Holly Holm at UFC 193, and she didn’t escape Saturday’s bout unharmed as she was transported to the local hospital, according to ESPN.com’s Ramona Shelburne.
Continue for updates.
Rousey’s Injuries Not Serious
Sunday, Nov. 15
Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com reported Rousey suffered a “busted lip”, but that her injuries are not severe at this point.
Rousey fell to Holm in the second round, when she took a head kick and several punches before being knocked out. Shelburne did not disclose the type of injury Rousey suffered, but the severity of the shots she took from Holm didn’t paint a pretty picture.
Rousey entered UFC 193 with a perfect 12-0 record, but Holm’s tactical proficiency overwhelmed the 28-year-old from start to finish.
While speculation will surround Rousey’s next fight and the general progression of her career from this point forward, the focus should be on her well-being following a debilitating clash.
The upset of the year happened Saturday. Holly Holm became the new UFC women’s bantamweight champion by knocking out Ronda Rousey in the second round in Melbourne, Australia.
Holm surprisingly dominated the fight from the get-go. She let the …
The upset of the year happened Saturday. Holly Holm became the new UFC women’s bantamweight champion by knocking out Ronda Rousey in the second round in Melbourne, Australia.
Holm surprisingly dominated the fight from the get-go. She let the fight come to her and got some clear shots to Rousey’s face toward the end of the first round. Holm ended the fight with a kick to the side of the head a minute into the second round for the stunning upset.
Twitter, of course, had some reactions. Here are a few, starting with Phil “CM Punk” Brooks:
A lot of boxing references were made, one of them from Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports:
ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael shared his thoughts on the kick heard ’round the world:
Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports noted that a pure boxer got in the ring with Rousey and fought a well-calculated match:
Fox Sports’ Jon Anik also commented on the no-longer-undefeated Rousey:
CBS Sports’ Will Brinson thought Rousey played the role of Michigan for the night:
ESPN.com’s Ramona Shelburne captured the emotion of one of the biggest upsets in fighting history:
CBS Sports went there and pulled the Undertaker-losing-at-Wrestlemania card:
Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, who also involves himself in the MMA world, shared his thoughts on Holm’s huge victory:
One of Rousey’s biggest rivals, Miesha Tate, took the chance to throw a little shade at the former champion:
As the fight was going on, the Golden State Warriors-Brooklyn Nets game was just going into overtime. Dallas Mavericks play-by-play broadcaster Mark Followill didn’t know which surprised him more:
Boxing legend Lennox Lewis thought Rousey made one huge mistake throughout the course of the fight:
Actress Ruby Rose was beyond disappointed Rousey suffered her first defeat:
ESPN Stats & Info dove into just how thoroughly Holm dominated Rousey:
Boxing legend George Foreman lent his support to Rousey:
Reebok also expressed its support to one of its top stars:
More shocking than Rousey simply losing was that Holm dominated her like that. Holm dictated every facet of the fight, from the pace to the actual striking ability. She baited Rousey into coming after her, and it cost the former champion.
This is one of the bigger upsets in sports history, and a new name rests atop the bantamweight division for the first time ever.
At the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday night, challenger Holly Holm made history when she first dropped bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey with a punch in Round 2 at UFC 193 and then knocked her out cold with a vicious head kick as …
At the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday night, challenger Holly Holm made history when she first dropped bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey with a punch in Round 2 at UFC 193 and then knocked her out cold with a vicious head kick as Rousey stood back up.
Rousey fell to the mat with her eyes closed, and as Holm landed a few punches, referee Herb Dean rushed in to stop the fight. With Rousey’s first loss, Holm picked off the only other undefeated women’s bantamweight in the promotion.
It was a shocking upset for an event many had written off as another easy victory for Rousey.
Round 1 Recap
There was a left from Ronda before a one-two, one strike from Holly. A couple more from Ronda preceded a brief exchange. Ronda threw a few and Holly retreated. Holly was light on her feet and good at darting in and out while tagging Ronda.
Ronda went in for the clinch and takedown; Holly staved off the takedown and got pushed up against the cage before escaping the clinch. Holly moved back into the middle and got tagged by a left from Ronda. A straight right from Holly followed, but Ronda kept advancing.
Hard elbow from Holly. Ronda clinched and took her down, going for the armbar. She didn’t get it. They stood back up. Overhand right from Ronda. Low front kick from Holly. Holly ducked a punch from Ronda. Ronda got a Russian tie, but Holly pulled out of it and landed a left.
This was the most ineffective Ronda had looked.
Big left from Holly. After an exchange, Holm’s mouthpiece fell out. They reset after she retrieved it. Holly went for a takedown and got it after receiving an overhand right from Ronda, then fell briefly into Ronda’s guard. Holly disengaged and they stood.
Ronda went in with wild strikes, but Holly evaded her with ease. Ronda got an arm drag and grabbed Holly’s head but couldn’t hold onto it after exchanging some knees. Ronda got a strike in a split second after the bell. Her mouth was bloody, and she was visibly fatigued.
Round 2 Recap
Holly started with a straight left and two left jabs. She followed those up with a body kick. Holly ducked under a left from Ronda, and Ronda fell to one knee and looked confused for a moment before turning back to the center. After a brief exchange, Holly dropped Ronda with a punch; as Ronda stood back up, Holly KO’d Ronda with a head kick.
Ronda was completely out. Her eyes were shut, and she was prostrate on the mat as Holm dropped into knee-on-belly and punched her a few more times on the ground. Dean stepped in to stop the fight at :59.
The roar from the crowd was almost deafening. As Holly processed her victory, Ronda remained on the ground, confused and seemingly out of it. The doctors and her coach, Edmond Tarverdyan, kept her from standing.
Holly then stood off to the side, her initial joy tempered by what seemed like some concern for Rousey—a look we’ve seen on her face before after she knocked out Allanna Jones at Legacy 21, also with a head kick.
Both fighters seemed to be in some state of surprise. Rousey looked in disbelief with eyes downcast as the official decision was announced. Holm was crying, and as Joe Rogan interviewed her, she couldn’t control the excitement and elation in her voice.
UFC 193 was already a history-making card, featuring two female title fights and possibly outperforming UFC 129’s record attendance in a 70,000-seat arena. There was little animosity leading up to Rousey’s eighth title defense, save for an incident at the weigh-ins, when Rousey claimed Holm’s fist touched her face during the staredown. Rousey responded so aggressively UFC president Dana White had to separate them.
When Rogan interviewed her afterward, Rousey spoke past him to Holm, saying:
All that respect, all that everything, all you being sweet—I see right now that it’s fake, and you’re gonna get it on Sunday. You’re not the first person that thought you had the perfect plan to beat me. It’s not the first time your camp thought they had the perfect plan to beat me.
Holm remained stoic throughout the exchange; neither her face nor her words betrayed any emotion.
Rousey then posted a video of the incident and a diatribe on Instagram that reflected her comments at the weigh-in (warning: NSFW text):
The odds heavily favored Rousey going into the fight, with few expecting Holm’s boxing could counter Rousey’s judo and aggression. This proved erroneous, as Holm orchestrated Rousey’s first loss in MMA.
Holm’s record remains undefeated at 10-0, while Rousey suffers her first loss to come in at 12-1. She also has some new, unwanted records:
Initially, Miesha Tate was thought to be Rousey’s next opponent, following Rousey’s KO of Bethe Correia at UFC 190, with White saying as much. But it was Holm who was tapped; the Rousey-Tate fight is one “everyone has already seen,” White told the Los Angeles Times‘ Lance Pugmire in August. But Tate has won her last four fights, and she remains a top-ranked bantamweight in a limited division.
From here, it’s most likely Rousey will be offered an immediate rematch against Holm. But there are several top-ranked bantamweights Rousey hasn’t faced under the UFC banner, including No. 3-ranked Amanda Nunes and The Ultimate Fighter 18 winner Julianna Pena.
Whomever Rousey fights next, expect to wait a while. After three title defenses in nine months and losing the title, a break would be understandable. She told Rolling Stone‘s Mike Bohn, “After this fight I’m definitely going to let some people miss me, for sure. Believe me, there’s nothing I would like to do more than disappear for a while. I would like to wait until UFC 200 to fight again.”
In the meantime, Rousey will be making movies, including a remake of Roadhouse and a Peter Berg film called Mile 22. UFC 200 is set to take place at the new Las Vegas Arena on July 9, 2016.
So far, Holm hasn’t commented on what might be next. Presumably, some reveling in her newfound title will be in order.
Ronda Rousey was unbeatable. Invincible. Undefeated.She was the greatest ever.And then she was flat on her back, her face bloodied, knocked out cold and no longer the undisputed UFC’s women’s bantamweight champion.Who could have imagined th…
Ronda Rousey was unbeatable. Invincible. Undefeated.She was the greatest ever.And then she was flat on her back, her face bloodied, knocked out cold and no longer the undisputed UFC’s women’s bantamweight champion.Who could have imagined this?But Saturday night at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, Holly Holm proved to be the better boxer and better kicker, a fighter capable of staying out of Rousey’s range and delivering decisive shots. Rousey wanted to prove she could box, but she was no match for the more experienced Holm.More from UFC 193: Missed history? Order UFC 1 … Read the Full Article Here
Holly Holm pulled off the unthinkable at UFC 193’s main event in Melbourne, Australia on Saturday when she knocked out women’s bantamweight titleholder Ronda Rousey in the second round behind a vicious head kick. 