A fresh round of discussion has ignited between former UFC rivals Holly Holm and Ronda Rousey, reigniting one of the sport's most iconic rivalries. The conversation resurfaced after an older interview clip of Rousey began circulating online, where she confidently stated she would beat Holm in a rematch. The video quickly captured the attention of MMA fans, bringing the rivalry back into the spotlight.
Holm Responds to Rousey's Comments
Shortly after the clip went viral, Holm shared her thoughts during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. The former UFC champion responded to Rousey's remarks by stating she has always been willing to fight Rousey again. However, she suggested that Rousey has never shown genuine interest in a rematch since their famous meeting in 2015. Despite both fighters moving in different directions, the topic continues to intrigue fans more than a decade later.
Holly Holm Says Rematch Has Always Been Available
The latest discussion began after Rousey appeared on Up & Adams with Kay Adams. During the interview, she was asked what would happen if she fought Holm again. Rousey answered confidently, stating she would defeat her former opponent. At the same time, she made it clear that she is retired, making another fight unlikely.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani, Holm responded by emphasizing that she has never closed the door on a second fight. She explained that her position has remained unchanged since their first meeting ended. According to MMA Fighting's Damon Martin, Holm said: "I highly doubt she'll ever want a rematch. I always have said since the minute the last fight was over, I'll always rematch her. That's always been available. But she wanted to come back and have this win and go back and enjoy and have a win like that. No hate from me. I hope she does well. I hope she does whatever she wants with her life. That's her life. I'd always be open to fight her again."
The Rivalry's Historic Background
The rivalry dates back to November 2015 at UFC 193. On that night, Holm shocked the MMA world by knocking out Rousey and capturing the UFC women's bantamweight title. It was the first loss of Rousey's professional MMA career after she had started with a perfect 12-0 record. Since then, both fighters have taken different paths. Rousey later lost to Amanda Nunes in her final UFC appearance in December 2016. Holm, meanwhile, continued competing and recently challenged Stephanie Han for the WBA female lightweight boxing title on May 30. Han kept the belt through a majority decision, although Holm finished the fight with a significant advantage in landed strikes.
Current Status and Fan Interest
While another fight between Holm and Rousey appears unlikely, the rivalry still remains one of the most talked-about stories in women's combat sports. Fans continue to debate what could have been and whether a rematch would ever materialize. Holm's openness to the fight contrasts with Rousey's retirement, leaving the possibility as a tantalizing "what if" in MMA history.
