Holly Holm, former bantamweight champion, famously defeated Ronda Rousey with a head-kick knockout at UFC 193 in 2015. That victory marked the first professional loss of Rousey’s MMA career and made Holm a prominent figure in the sport.
A rematch was widely anticipated at the time, but Rousey wanted time away from fighting, while Holm pursued her own activity in the octagon. Holm then defended her title against Miesha Tate at UFC 196, suffering an upset loss. Rousey returned to MMA a year later, only to be knocked out by Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. Since then, she has not competed in MMA.
10 years ago, the head kick heard around the world 🏆
Holly Holm, a +825 underdog, became the first fighter to beat Ronda Rousey.
56,214 people were in attendance, and 1.1 MILLION PPVs were sold that night 🤯pic.twitter.com/gKQg3Idzc1
— MMA On Point (@mmaonpoint) November 14, 2025
Holm’s openness to a rematch
Now 44 and recently returned to boxing after leaving the UFC in 2024, Holm says she is ready if Rousey wants to fight again.
“I’ve always been open to a rematch with her. I still am,” Holm told Ariel Helwani. “She’s been training. I have always been open to a rematch with Ronda. I just don’t know if she ever wanted to have one. Not spitting out negativity with Dana (White), the UFC, nothing.”
Reflecting on her fight with Tate, Holm added:
“Miesha Tate and I on the co-main with Conor (McGregor), that was a big fight. The only thing I regret about that is that I lost focus and lost the fight in the last round, but I’ve always been open to a rematch with Ronda, and the offer still stands. I’m still here.”
Considering Rousey’s potential return
Holm notes that seeing Rousey train does not automatically signal a comeback, but she believes any athlete of Rousey’s caliber has the passion and drive to compete again.
“I don’t know if she does (want to come back),” Holm said. “I mean, here’s the thing about any athlete: She’s been an Olympian, she’s been a champion, and you don’t get to that point without having that fight in you. So, you can’t ever count anybody out. Maybe she does. I would have never thought it or seen it. She’s got a family. Nothing wrong with that. Maybe she’s just enjoying her life that way. Maybe she’s loving being able to get back into training and things like that.
“Maybe she’s like, ‘You know what? I really miss this. I want try it.’ I left boxing, and when I did MMA full time, I thought I’d never go back to boxing, and here I am back in boxing because I started to miss it. So, if she actually wanted to – I don’t think it, but I mean, I don’t see. I also don’t count it out. Any athlete that’s been fighting or at the top level, they got there because they had passion, not just by chance. So, if she feels that and wants to come back and do something, great.”
Holm’s comments reflect her continued commitment to competition and her respect for fellow fighters. Whether in MMA or boxing, she is prepared to step into the ring if Rousey decides to return, keeping one of the sport’s most famous rivalries alive for fans.
