The biggest moment of Holly Holm’s fighting career came on Nov. 15, 2015 when she abruptly ended the UFC women’s bantamweight championship reign of Ronda Rousey with a head kick heard around the world.
A rematch between the two never happened, but Holm welcomed one then and welcomes one now.
Rousey hás been back in the gym sparking speculation of a possible return. Rumors recently floated that “Rowdy” making her boxing debut could be in the works. Holm was asked about a potential Rousey return during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show.
“I’ve always been open to a rematch with her. I still am. She’s been training,” Holm said. “I have always been open to a rematch with Ronda. I just don’t know if she ever wanted to have one … I’ve always been open to a rematch with Ronda, and the offer still stands. I’m still here.”
Rousey hasn’t fought since December 2016. The 38 year-old began posting training videos of her getting back in shape after giving birth to a second child in January. She soon returned to training MMA and expressed how much she fell in love with it again, but Holm isn’t sure if a Rousey return is likely.
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“I don’t know,” Holm answered when asked if she thinks Rousey comes back. “I don’t know if she does. I. mean, here’s the thing about any athlete. She’s been an Olympian. She’s been a champion, and you don’t get to that point without having that fight in you. So, you can’t ever count anybody out. Maybe she does.
“I don’t, I would have never like thought it, or seen it. She’s got a family. Nothing wrong with that. Maybe she’s just enjoying her life that way,” continued Holm. “Maybe she’s loving being able to get back into training and things like that. Maybe she’s like, ‘You know what, I really miss this. I wanna try it.’
“I left boxing. And when I did MMA full-time, I thought I’d never go back to boxing and here I am back in boxing because I started to miss it. If she actually wanted to, I don’t think it, but I mean, I don’t see. I also don’t count it out. Any athlete that’s been fighting, or at the top level, they got there because they had passion. Not just by chance. So, if she feels that and wants to come back and do something, then great.”
“I mean, if she comes back, great. I’d like to be the one she fights if she comes back, boxing or in MMA.”
