Holly Holm News: 'The Preacher's Daughter' An Inspiration To Teammate After Knockout Win Over Ronda Rousey
Current UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm has gotten a ton amount of praise after her victory over former 135-pound queen Ronda Rousey.
"The Preacher's Daughter" did not have the global recognition she is currently enjoying prior to the Rousey fight at UFC 193 on November 15th at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. Back then, she was merely known as another former professional boxer who was having quite a successful initial run at mixed martial arts.
All the praises and accolades poured in after her fight. It was the outcome she rightfully deserves after knocking out the woman who was deemed by Sports Illustrated as the "most dominant athlete alive".
More than a month after the fight that initially shocked the entire prizefighting world, Holm is still enjoying the fruits of her labor. So much so that her newfound status as the face of women's fighting has served as an inspiration for the people around her.
Number five-ranked UFC bantamweight Sarah Kaufman trains alongside Holm at the Jackson-Winkeljohn Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In an interview with MMA Fighting, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt spoke about what it was like to have the current bantamweight champion by her side during training.
"I think Holly winning that title against Ronda has instilled in me even more so that confidence factor of like, look, you can do everything," Kaufman said in the interview. "And that's the really cool bond that I think we have."
Many female fighters have held Ronda Rousey in high regard as the one who paved the way for women's mixed martial arts. But now that Holm now sits at "Rowdy's" former throne, she also gets the spotlight that comes along with it.
Rousey's skill as a martial artist was the main aspect of her game that earned her the reputation she holds. But according to Kaufman, what gave Holm a huge amount of success is how she adjusted herself to learning MMA.
"I know how amazing she is," said Kaufman. "I've trained with her for years, not just one or two times, it's been great to see her progression into MMA."
