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It seems that Holly Holm still enjoys fighting. However, retirement is on the horizon.
The No.3-ranked women's bantamweight contender recently signed a new six-fight deal with the UFC and hinted that she may hang up her gloves once the contract expires.
The former UFC women's bantamweight champion had a dominant win over Yana Santos in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN 43. In the post-event press conference, 'The Preacher's Daughter' spoke about her future in fighting.
Holly Holm said in response to whether the six-fight deal was the last one of her career:
"That's very possible. I don't like to really put a timeline on myself, but I definitely know that I'm not 25 and 30 anymore. I still feel very healthy right now, but six fights is still quite a bit of time. So I definitely know that retirement is sooner than it was 10 years ago, but I'm not ready to do it just yet."
Skip to 6:17 for Holly Holm on her future career trajectory:
Holly Holm is the second female champion in UFC bantamweight history. 'The Preacher's Daughter' had an illustrious boxing career with a 33-2-3 record. In MMA, her promotional record is 8-6, while her overall MMA record is 15-6.
"My love will always be striking, but I do have a new-found love (for grappling)" - Holly Holm
Holly Holm displayed exceptional grappling skills in her fight last weekend against Yana Santos at UFC on ESPN 43. 'The Preacher's Daughter' has come a long way since losing her belt to Miesha Tate in her first title defense, where she was choked unconscious in the final frame.
In her last fight, Holm was able to hold her own in the clinch exchanges initiated by Yana Santos against the cage. The Albuquerque native secured outside leg trips using double underhooks on more than one occasion, and even a double-leg takedown in the third round.
During the aforementioned presser, 'The Preacher's Daughter' spoke of her increasing love for grappling:
"I think my life will always be striking, you know, but I think I have a new-found love - [for] kind of, just the grind and the wrestling aspect of it. And grappling, you know, is like - I think the more you learn with anything, you obviously enjoy it the more you know it."
Holm continued:
"And when you're first learning, you know, any kind of grappling or jiu-jitsu, it's like I don't even know what to do. And then when you start learning how to pass and do what you want to do, and impose your will on someone, it gets more fun. But still, in my heart, striking is always what I love the most."
Watch Holly Holm's octagon interview at UFC on ESPN 43 below:
