Holly Holm Is Focused On Making UFC History
The UFC has decided to finally implement a female 145-pound division, something heavily campaigned for by Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino, and has granted former bantamweight champion Holly Holm and No. 11-ranked Germaine de Randamie the opportunity to win the inaugural belt.
Holm recently spoke to MMA Junkie about the exciting opportunity, something that ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ said she couldn’t refuse when approached with the chance:
“I guess I thought that it could be a step that would happen,” Holm said. “I just didn’t think I would be involved in it. I thought I would still be at the 135 (division).
“But gosh, this opportunity is right in front of me. How do you not take it?”
While Holm may have some unfinished business in the 135-pound division, suffering two straight losses since defeating Ronda Rousey for the bantamweight throne in Melbourne, she remains completely focused on the task at hand in her new division:
“You know, this is the fight that’s in front of me, and this is what I’m focused on,” she said. “How awesome to be able to fight for a new division and to be able to fight for the belt? Two belts, two different weight classes. That’s awesome.
“My goal obviously – who wants to gain a belt and then lose it? So (losing the 135-pound title) is definitely a sore spot for me, so I want to be able to fight for the 135-pound belt, as well, but that’s not something I’m of right now because I have this other opportunity in front of me.”
Holm’s ultimate goal in the sport is not only to win as many titles as she possibly can, but also make history by standing in a class of her own by conquering unheard of accomplishments:
“For me, it’s not necessarily about what other people think about me – it’s what I want,” she said. “And I want to be able to accomplish things that haven’t been accomplished before.”
Holm and De Randamie will meet for the inaugural women’s featherweight championship at UFC 208 live on pay-per-view (PPV), from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on February 11, 2017.
