Why did Holly Holm switch to MMA? A look into ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’s’ transition to the sport

Holly Holm, known for her success in the UFC women’s bantamweight division, gained recognition when she defeated Ronda Rousey, the previously undefeated champion. This victory served as proof that ‘Rowdy’ was not unbeatable in all forms of combat sports.

Indeed, Holm more accurately fits that characterization compared to Rousey. As a matter of fact, Holm had already established herself as a world champion boxer before transitioning to MMA, earning a total of 18 world titles. Therefore, the question remains: why did Holm choose to leave the boxing ring for the MMA arena?

Holly Holm’s Rise to Success in the MMA World

At UFC 300, Kayla Harrison, another Olympic judoka, will be facing off against Holly Holm. This fight will be the 23rd bout in ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’s’ MMA career, which began in 2011 after Holm had already achieved all of her goals in boxing and had no further motivation to continue in the sport.

In the past, Holm stated that her decision to switch from boxing to MMA was due to her increased passion for the latter. However, this reason may seem too impulsive for her to give up the sport that initially propelled her into the spotlight in combat sports.

Upon further examination, additional elements have been revealed. One significant factor is the lack of attention given to women’s boxing since the early 2000s, when Christy Martin was a prominent figure. Even Claressa Shields, widely considered the greatest female boxer and known for her outspoken nature, has turned to MMA.

Regardless of their level of skill or confidence, female boxers face difficulty in gaining recognition from the casual audience. This greatly impacts the funding and compensation for women’s boxing.

During the Rousey era, MMA was a more financially rewarding career, which prompted Holm to make the switch. With the need to earn a living, Holm found that women’s boxing did not offer the same level of financial stability. This remains true to this day.

However, that may not be the sole factor influencing her decision. At the time, there were murmurs about Holm’s supposed reluctance to compete outside of her home state of New Mexico.

Despite facing allegations of favorable judging in her home state, this stance garnered considerable attention. As a result, numerous boxers refused to fight Holm in her hometown, making it challenging for her to secure fights. Additionally, many believed that her devastating knockout defeat to Anne Sophie Mathis marked the start of her downfall.

Watch Holly Holm’s defeat by knockout at the hands of Anne Sophie Mathis:

At the time, it seemed as though boxing may have been leaving her behind. She was also reportedly fully focused on MMA and in talks for a boxing championship fight against the undefeated Cecilia Brækhus.

Despite many accusations that she was avoiding Brækhus, who was predicted to easily defeat her, the fight between the two never actually happened.

Holm, a former UFC champion, is currently making her ultimate effort to secure a title fight at UFC 300.