Holly Holm: I Never Felt Like I Was At The Top
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and former multi-time boxing world champion Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm has experienced a downward spiral over the last few months, losing two straight bouts. After surrendering her title last March, Holm was out pointed by Valentina Shevchenko in the main event of UFC on FOX 20 last night (July 23, 2016).
Reflecting on the loss in the aftermath of the event, Holm said that she just needs to believe in herself more:
“I have to get back in there and go forward,” the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion said during Saturday night’s post-fight press conference at United Center. I know I’m capable of more. I just have to believe in myself more. I know I can do more than the way I performed tonight.”
Despite once holding the title, Holm admits that she never felt as if she was on top given the fact that new contenders are constantly emerging:
“I’ve never in my career whether it be in boxing or MMA, felt like I was at the top, because I know that somebody else is aspiring to be the best,” Holm said. “Just as when I first came into MMA I thought I want to have titles in both, I have drive behind me. I still do. So I never look at the division and think I made it to the top and I’m just going to stay there. I know there will always be people who are hungry, always people who are getting better.”
At the end of the day, Holm wasn’t making any excuses. “The Preacher’s Daughter” praised Shevchenko and made it clear that she wasn’t happy with her performance opposite “Bullet”:
“Valentina is really tough,” Holm said. “We knew that. Counterpunching, clinch, trips, all that. It’s not like I haven’t been taught the right things. It all comes down to my performance and it wasn’t great tonight.”
Who would you like to see Holm face off with next?
