Holly Holm: I'm not being rushed into title fight with UFC champ Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm

Holly Holm said she doesn’t think she’s being rushed into title fight with UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

Although Holm (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) wasn’t originally expected to be next for Rousey (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), the matchup came together because UFC President Dana White said it was “the right fight to make” at this time.

The 135-pound title bout was first scheduled for UFC 195 on Jan. 2, but the organization was later forced to shuffle upcoming headliners, so Holm and Rousey now meet at UFC 193 on Nov. 14 in Melbourne.

UFC 194’s main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass, and the 70,000-seat Etihad Stadium plays host.

Holm made her UFC debut earlier this year. She’d already been discussed as a potential Rousey opponent before ever stepping in the octagon due to her undefeated record and pro boxing pedigree. She won her first two octagon appearances, but lackluster performances tampered talk of a potential Rousey fight.

UFC officials had first pegged Miesha Tate at Rousey’s next challenger after “Rowdy” dispatched Bethe Correia in just 34 seconds for her sixth consecutive title defense, which came at UFC 190 in August.

Tate’s title shot didn’t come to fruition, though, and the fight was instead granted to Holm. Many were surprised by the change of plans. Even Holm said she was taken off guard by the opportunity, though she said she never considered passing on the opportunity.

“First off, there was no hesitation because I feel like that’s not a mental strength,” Holm told MMAjunkie. “You have to be mentally strong to get in there. When they called, it was like, ‘This is what’s next. Awesome.’ If I would have felt like I should have said no, then when the next fight comes it would be, ‘Was I doubting myself before? Am I doubting myself now?’ That’s just a not mentality I have in me, and I don’t choose to feel that way at all.”

Holm said she knew the Rousey fight would eventually materialize. She didn’t know it would be this soon, but at 33 and with nearly 14 years of pro combat sports experience to her credit, there might be no better time for Holm to compete for the UFC’s grandest prize.

“Did it come sooner than we would think? That’s not a lie to say yeah, it came soon, but I’m really excited for it,” Holm said. “There’s so many girls in the division, but guess what: Even before I signed with the UFC it was like, ‘Hey, when are you going to fight Ronda Rousey?’ Now we’ve got it scheduled and can really focus on it.

“There’s been all these questions about it, but I’ve had all these other fighters in front of me. But I didn’t want to focus on anything but the fight that’s right in front of me. Now I can really focus and dive into this training camp, and I’m really excited for it.”

Holm may be humble and soft-spoken outside of the cage, but when fight time arrives, she’s a tenacious competitor, she said. Rousey has looked nearly unbeatable throughout her career, but if Holm fights wisely, her advantage in striking experience could create a more even matchup than Rousey’s previous fights.

The champ would be a substantial favorite against every fighter currently in the UFC women’s bantamweight division. That’s no different for the matchup with Holm. Rousey opened as a 12.5-1 betting favorite.

Holm said she’s aware Rousey’s quick and decisive victories have built an aura of invincibility. She said it doesn’t intimidate her, though, because she knows where her skills stand and what it’s going to take to deliver a title-winning performance at UFC 193.

“Nobody would want to watch a fight if they knew what was going to happen; the unknown is there, and anything can happen,” she said. “I’m very capable. I’m walking with every bit of confidence into this fight. (I’m) confidence without being cocky or overconfident.

“I’m going up against the best fighter. They aren’t calling her the most dominant female fighter. They’re calling her the most dominant female athlete, and that’s a lot to carry. Do I have to do everything right? Absolutely. But it’s possible.”

For more on UFC 193, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.