Jon Jones has added further thoughts on his teammate Holly Holm after her stunning victory over Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 this weekend.
The former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion took to Facebook on Monday to talk Holm up, and said he considers her the greatest ever in women’s combat sports. Here’s what Jones had to say:
“In my opinion Holly Holm is already the G.O.A.T. of women’s combat sports. She was considered the greatest female boxer to ever compete in the sport and now she has defeated the greatest female mixed martial arts fighter to date. Her accolades are absolutely unheard of, but that’s not what makes me such a fan of Holly. It’s the way she carries herself outside of the bright lights and the arenas.
I know the MMA community doesn’t really know Holly yet, so let me be the first to tell you. She is the most classy and down to earth athlete I’ve ever had the pleasure to be around. She is the long time pride of Albuquerque, New Mexico not only because the way she competes, but the way she treats each and every individual that has the opportunity of meeting her. This actually can be a problem at times, a simple trip for a gallon of milk to the grocery store could take her an easy 45 minutes and she doesn’t even mind haha. If you’re impressed by Holly’s talent, wait until you get an understanding of what type of character she possesses, it is truly world class. She is a role model that you would love to have your daughters look up to. I’m so honored to be able to call her a teammate and most importantly a friend.
Congratulations again, Champ and keep kicking ass at life.”
Penick’s Analysis: It might be an apt honor to bestow on Holm at this point. She had a ton of success in her boxing career, and she’s now captured a UFC title and dethroned the woman who up until Saturday night had been hyped up as invincible. I think she may still need some other victories over certain opponents, and perhaps need to cement things against Rousey with a follow-up victory in a rematch, but it’s hard to deny what she’s already accomplished to date. Saturday night was so impressive, and she’s going to get some clearly overdue respect.
[Jon Jones art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
The UFC should start embracing that tagline in promoting her rematch against Rousey. Makes a world of sense. They engage in a ton of hyperbole, this actually has a good argument for it.