Holly Holm: I Have To Come Back & Deal With My Own Doubt

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm went from a high in her career to a low point and is now looking to rebound. Holm was on top of the world after beating Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 but was shot out of the sky thanks to Miesha Tate, who beat Holm at UFC 196 to win the title.

Holm is set to fight Valentina Shevchenko at UFC on FOX 20, and spoke with MMA Junkie about wanting to win her title back.

“I have had to come back from being behind and dealing with my own doubt,” Holm said. “But I was able to make it through, and that’s my hope to do it again. My goal is to get back to the belt, and the belt is at 135.”

Holm has been a champion and lost and came back from that loss before. Heading into a December 2011 IBA welterweight title fight against Anne Sophie Mathis, Holm was riding high before being KO’d in the seventh round of that fight. Holm avenged her boxing loss to Mathis just six months after the fight.

“I try not to compare those scenarios too much,” said Holm, who competed in three different weight classes in the ring. “Those moments in boxing are what helped me to be maybe more level-minded right now. I’m trying not to let my emotions get too involved. I don’t want to doubt myself too much. I think I’ve learned that you know, I’ve done this before. I’ve come back before, and I can do it again.”

UFC on FOX 20 takes place on Saturday, July 23, 2016, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The prelims will air on UFC Fight Pass at 4PM/3PM ETPT and FOX Sports 1 at 6PM/3PM ETPT while the main card will air on FOX at 8PM/5PM ETPT.