Holly Holm News: UFC Bantamweight Champ Says Backlash Against Rousey Was Caused By Her Own Actions
Almost two months since bagging the UFC bantamweight title, Holly Holm has continued to speak against former 135-pound queen Ronda Rousey.
"The Preacher's Daughter" scored a sensational second round knockout victory over "Rowdy" at UFC 193 on November 15, in front of 56,000 fans at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. The loss marked Rousey's first one in her four-year professiona mixed martial arts career.
After the said fight, many of her fans instantly turned against her. Many of them did not appreciate how Rousey acted during the weigh-ins, when she showed aggression that was perceived as arrogance when she instigated a heated stare down with Holm.
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She once again showed her feisty side when she refused to touch gloves with Holm seconds before the actual fight. This act once again drew negative comments from fight fans.
In her recent appearance at the Monday edition of MMA Fighting's "The MMA Hour" hosted by veteran journalist Ariel Helwani, Holm says that while she believes Rousey does not deserve the vitriol from fans, she understands where most of them are coming from.
"I do think that she put herself in that position," Holm explained on the show. "She's even said herself that if people don't like her style, then she doesn't care. That's who she is and she doesn't claim to be anybody else."
Rousey is no stranger to hatred from fans and critics. While she did earn praises when she engaged in a verbal tirade with another hated figure in combat sports that is Floyd Mayweather, she was heavily criticized for many things as well, including appearing on the cover of the January 2016 issue of Ring Magazine, also known as the "Bible of Boxing."
Holm adds that while she understands and empathizes with Rousey and what she is going through, she also believes the woman once branded as the "most dominant athlete alive" would be able to handle it all.
"People get pretty brutal about stuff," Holm adds. "But I think she's tough enough. I think she can handle it."
