Former Champion Holly Holm leaves UFC

Holm, known for her upset of Ronda Rousey, requested her release from the organisation.

Holly Holm, former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and boxing Hall of Famer, has parted ways with the promotion to pursue opportunities in mixed martial arts or boxing, according to her agent, Lenny Fresquez. Holm, who still had fights left on her UFC contract, requested her release, which the organization granted.

Holm (15-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC), 43, gained international fame in 2015 with a head-kick knockout of Ronda Rousey at UFC 193, securing one of the sport’s most iconic upsets and capturing the bantamweight title. It remains one of the highest grossing pay-per-views in UFC history.

However, her reign ended just four months later when she lost the belt to Miesha Tate at UFC 196. Despite multiple title opportunities in the years that followed, Holm was unable to reclaim a championship in the 135-pound or 145-pound divisions.

Her UFC career included losses to top contenders such as Valentina Shevchenko, Germaine de Randamie, Cris Cyborg, and Amanda Nunes, as well as a final defeat to two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison via submission at UFC 300 in April 2024. She posted the following on Instagram last April, after defeat to Harrison:

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Holly Holm (@hollyholm)

Holm’s MMA journey began in 2011 in her home state of New Mexico, where she quickly rose to prominence, capturing the Legacy FC title before joining the UFC in 2015. Her decisive victory over Rousey remains a career-defining moment, earning her numerous accolades, including Knockout of the Year honors from multiple outlets.

In addition to her MMA achievements, Holm is a decorated professional boxer with 16 title defenses across three weight classes. She is a two-time Female Fighter of the Year from The Ring magazine and was inducted into both the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022.

Holm’s next steps in combat sports could involve a return to boxing, potentially facing opponents like Cris Cyborg, whom she previously fought in the UFC and who has transitioned to professional boxing while maintaining her Bellator MMA career.

Holm’s departure from the UFC closes a chapter on a career that spanned nearly a decade in the promotion while leaving the door open for new ventures in both MMA and boxing.