American · Albuquerque, New Mexico · Born 17 October 1981Holly Holm is an American boxer, mixed martial artist, and multiple-time world champion who held titles in three boxing weight divisions before transitioning to MMA.
Holly Dawn Holm was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1981 and became a world champion across two different combat sports — boxing and MMA. Her boxing professional record of 33 wins (9 by knockout), 3 losses and 3 draws spans 2002 to 2017, including world titles in five weight divisions from welterweight to super middleweight and light middleweight. She was Ring Magazine Female Fighter of the Year in 2005 and 2006. She transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2011 and in November 2015 delivered the most shocking upset in MMA history — a head kick followed by ground strikes to stop the supposedly invincible Ronda Rousey in the second round at UFC 193 in Melbourne before 56,000 people. She won the UFC Bantamweight Championship. She lost the title in her first defence to Miesha Tate in March 2016. Her MMA record of 15 wins and 7 losses includes notable victories over Rousey, Bethe Correia and Megan Anderson. She is considered one of the most technically accomplished strikers in women's MMA history, her boxing foundation giving her advantages in standup exchanges that most opponents cannot match.
19-time world boxing champion; later UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion
How They Played
Counter-puncher with excellent footwork and boxing fundamentals
Lasting Impact
One of the most successful female combat sports athletes, unified champion in boxing and UFC titleholder
Career Honours
- 14+ world titles across junior welterweight, welterweight, and junior middleweight
- International Boxing Hall of Fame
- UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion 2015 (defeated Ronda Rousey)
American Athletes