5 reasons why Holly Holm is a legend of combat sports: Highlighting ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’s’ underrated achievements ahead of UFC 300

Despite her nearly year-long absence from the octagon, Holly Holm is preparing to make her highly-anticipated return later this month. She will be taking on newcomer Kayla Harrison at UFC 300, and below are five compelling reasons why ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ is widely regarded as a legend in the world of combat sports.

#1. She is a Legendary Boxer and International Hall of Famer

Holly Holm’s illustrious boxing career spanned from 2002 to 2013. With a record of 33-2-3, she defended 16 titles in three different weight classes before retiring.

Despite her numerous accolades, which include being recognized as The Ring Fighter of the Year in both 2005 and 2006, ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ retired as the top-ranked pound-for-pound women’s boxer of all time according to BoxRec. She still holds the record for the highest ranking among women’s welterweights in the promotion. Holm’s achievements have also earned her a place in the prestigious International Boxing Hall of Fame, International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame, and New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame.

#2. Defeating Ronda Rousey: A Historic Moment in Her Career

Despite being considered a heavy underdog, Holly Holm made a significant impact on mixed martial arts by becoming the first fighter to defeat Ronda Rousey at UFC 193. Many believed she had little chance of winning, but she proved them wrong and left her mark on the sport.

Despite this, ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ secured the women’s bantamweight title with a second-round head kick. As a result, she received both Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses, and was also awarded 2015 Upset of the Year and Knockout of the Year accolades.

#3. The Rapid Rise to UFC Champion: Her Journey to the Top

Aside from the awards mentioned earlier, Holly Holm was also recognized as the Newcomer of the Year in 2015. Within a span of less than nine months, she became the women’s bantamweight champion.

Following her debut at UFC 184 in February, she made a comeback in July and went on to knock out Ronda Rousey in November, earning her the title in an impressive rise that remains one of the fastest in promotional history.

#4. A Dual Champion in Boxing and UFC

Holly Holm has achieved great success in her combat sports career, holding championship titles in both boxing and the UFC. To this day, she is the only athlete in combat sports, regardless of gender, to hold titles in both sports.

#5. Fighting Against the Best: Her Octagon Encounters with Prominent Women in MMA

Without a doubt, Holly Holm has faced some of the most well-known names in women’s mixed martial arts history in the octagon. She has competed against UFC champions such as Ronda Rousey, Amanda Nunes, Valentina Shevchenko, Cris Cyborg, Miesha Tate, Raquel Pennington, and Germaine de Randamie, solidifying her position as the No.5-ranked bantamweight.

In addition to facing numerous title challengers, she is also scheduled to make her promotional debut at UFC 300 against Kayla Harrison, widely considered the biggest name in women’s mixed martial arts who has yet to compete in the UFC.