Holly Holm News: Teammates react to Holm's win over Rousey, says getting knocked out was a "life-changing experience"
Holly Holm's teammates at the renowned Jackson-Winklejohn Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico went berserk upon the results of the UFC 193 main event.
"The Preacher's Daughter" was able to shock the world when she knocked out Ronda Rousey with a head kick in the second round of their fight. Like Holm, who was visibly and rightfully ecstatic right after the fight, her teammates were with her in spirit, celebrating in their respective corners of the world.
In an interview with Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting, some of Holm's teammates shared their immediate post-fight reactions.
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"When Dana White put the belt around her waist, people went crazy, crowd went crazy, so it was good," said former UFC heavyweight champion Andre Arlovksi.
"It wasn't just she won," said two-time flyweight title contender John Dodson. "It was 'we won', and we took all the hard work that she's put in and we've helped her get ready for."
Many describe Holm's knockout of Rousey as a defining moment in mixed martial arts and UFC history. But unbeknownst to many fans, Holm herself suffered a brutal knockout loss as a professional boxer in 2011, at the hands of Anne Sophie Mathis.
Four years later, Holm once again spoke about the said fight, during her appearance on Good Day LA.
"I hate that I've been on the other end, but I'll tell you it was a life-changing experience for me," Holm said. "I really learned a lot about myself and about other people."
Holm did avenge her loss six months later when she defeated Mathis in a rematch. But as for getting over that major career setback, the 34-year old mixed martial artist credited her striking coach Mike Winklejohn, who was there with her every step of the way.
"He pulled me in the back and he goes, 'Listen, they're gonna ask you for a rematch and you know what you're gunna tell them?'" Holm recalled. "And I said, 'What's that, sir?' And he goes, 'Yes. Muhammad Ali is a legend, he's been knocked down and he came back and he's a legend, and why am I any different?'"
"And if I go into detail about that I'll start crying, but that was a moment for me that I needed," she continued. "So I never doubted myself from a minute from the minute I got out, and I thought, 'I'm gonna do this rematch' and I came back stronger and I avenged my loss."
