Manager: Holly Holm Negotiations with UFC Ongoing, But No Agreement in Place

Holly Holm has her eyes on a UFC roster spot. | Will Fox/Sherdog.com

Lenny Fresquez, Holm’s manager, was in town this past weekend to meet with promotion officials regarding his fighter. Fresquez confirmed to Sherdog.com on Monday that he met with UFC CEO and co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, president Dana White and matchmaker Sean Shelby.

“They were very cordial, very nice people. They treated me professionally,” Fresquez said. “They like Holly and they made us an offer to come into the UFC.”

The two sides were not able to reach an agreement during their meeting, however. One of the main sticking points for Fresquez is Holm’s purse for a potential meeting with UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. Of course, Holm’s team doesn’t want her to face the Olympic judoka right off the bat.

“We want two fights and then Ronda -- two or three fights at the most. That’s what our plan is,” Fresquez said. “Our main hang-up is going to be coming up with a deal to fight Ronda. For the three fights, we’re probably willing to take a little bit less than what we want, although we’re not there yet.”

Holm, a former world champion boxer, is unbeaten in six bouts as a professional. She went the distance for the first time in her most recent outing on Dec. 6, when she outpointed Angela Hayes at Fresquez Productions “Havoc” in New Mexico. If there is a criticism of Holm’s ascension to stardom in MMA, it’s that the Jackson’s MMA product has not been adequately tested in the cage to deserve a fast track to a UFC title shot.

Fresquez is well aware of the concerns, which is why he wants Holm to get at least a couple fights under her belt inside the Octagon.

“I understand that we need to build the [Rousey] fight up, and UFC fans need to see Holly fight in the UFC,” he said. “It needs to get a big buildup.”

Holm is scheduled to face Brazilian Juliana Werner at Legacy Fighting Championship 30 on April 4 in the promotion’s inaugural women’s 135-pound title fight. It is the third bout of a four-fight deal with the Texas-based organization. Holm’s Legacy contract is non-exclusive and would allow her to sign with the UFC before it is completed.

If Holm doesn’t sign with the UFC in the coming months, Fresquez expects her to compete at LFC 32 in Houston on June 13 to fulfill her Legacy contract.

“Hopefully we can continue our negotiations and get closer,” Fresquez said. ““We’re going to going to concentrate on this fight and hook back up with [the UFC] afterward and see if we can’t come to an agreement.”