It looks like Dana White has had a change of heart when it comes to Holly Holm. It was reported in March that the MMA kingpin had no interest in the 32 year old multiple world title holder but now, the former world boxing champion (boxing record 33-2-3, 9 KO’s) has joined White’s UFC. The Albuquerque fighter, who held titles both the junior welterweight and welterweight divisions, retired from professional boxing in 2013 to pursue a full time career in mixed martial arts that began in 2011 while she was still boxing. She’s compiled an undefeated record thus far at 7-0 with 6 coming by stoppage.
Until the UFC signing, Holm fought for Fresquez Productions, Bellator MMA, and Legacy Fighting Championship events. Her scheduled debut in the octagon is set for December 6th at UFC 181 against Raquel Pennington (4-4). As Holm told UFC.com, “…my goal is to be the first female that has titles in both MMA and boxing because nobody’s done that”.
The move to UFC already has fans talking about a possible match up with Ronda Rousey (10-0, 10 stoppages), the UFC bantamweight champion; as an MMA competitor, this is also the weight class Holm falls into. The match up would be a classic striker vs. grappler contest, as Rousey is an accomplished judoka and the first American woman to earn an Olympic medal in Judo, taking home the bronze at the 2008 Beijing games.
The WBF flyweight title changed hands in Germany this weekend. Amira Hamzaoui (11-1, 5 KO’s) defeated champion Raja Amasheh (17-1-1, 4 KO’s) at Saarlandhalle in Saarland, Germany by 10 round split decision, dealing Amasheh her first pro defeat. The win also earns Hamzaoui the WBC silver flyweight belt that was also held by Amasheh.
In Hungary, undefeated Csilla Nemedi (8-0, 6 KO’s) won the vacant WBF bantamweight championship, scoring a unanimous 10 round decision over Jasmina Nadj (3-4-1). It was the first title contest for both fighters.
World title challenger Diana Ayala (17-11-4, 11 KO’s) won in six rounds over the lesser experienced Angie Barca (0-4) in Colombia. Ayala has fought in eight world title bouts dating back to 2010 for four different sanctioning bodies in five different weight classes and so far, hasn’t been able to pull off a win yet.
Ireland’s 2012 Olympic gold medalist Katie Taylor will compete in the 8th edition of the AIBA Women’s Elite World Championships this November. Fighting in the 60kg weight division, she will be aiming for her fifth consecutive title at the event, which is being held at the Halla Gymnasium in Jeju Island, South Korea.
Undefeated Areti Mastrodouka (8-0, 2 KO’s) defeated Hana Horakova (6-11, 1 KO) in Athens, Greece to win the vacant GBU lightweight title. The new champ, who hails from Greece, makes her home now in Hertfordshire, U.K. and has built her career there, fighting her first six pro bouts at York Hall before brining her last two contests back to her home country. Horakova had a rough start in the pro ranks but had come into this bout on a three fight winning streak.
Huge congratulations are in order for Sue TL Fox, who is celebrating 25 years as a breast cancer survivor. Sue is the founder of the Women’s Boxing Archive Network (WBAN) and the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame, which held its inaugural inductions this past July. She is a former welterweight with a record of 4-3-2 (1 KO), and is a major force in everything involved with female boxing.
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