Holly Holm returns to action against Miesha Tate at UFC 197 this March, putting her newly won championship on the line. The woman she took that title from, Ronda Rousey, is keeping herself busy with other endeavors to kick off the year, and though Holm is very much up for a rematch, she said this week her interest in that fight hinges on Rousey’s legitimate desire to return.
“If she doesn’t want to fight, I don’t want to watch her fight,” Holm said during Wednesday’s UFC 197 press conference (via MMAFighting.com). “I don’t want to watch a fighter get in there that’s not passionate about it.
“I would rather meet someone in the cage when they’re passionate about it. I don’t want it to be because they feel like they have to or because it’s expected or other people are curious about it. It’s Ronda’s life. I want her to do what she wants to do.”
Holm plans to keep herself busy no matter what Rousey decides to do, and though she’ll be happy to welcome her back, she’s not letting that fight dictate her own plans.
“For me, I want to keep fighting,” Holm said. “And if Ronda wants to come back and that’s her passion, great. If she wants to stay in movies, great. If Ronda wants to fight, awesome. If she wants to go into the different avenues of her life, great. Whatever.”
Penick’s Analysis: Holm doesn’t need to be defined by Ronda Rousey. Her win in November was incredible, and if she carves out her own run, all the better. Rousey will almost assuredly get herself back into the cage for that rematch, and Holm will have a chance to make another statement if and when she does, but there’s no need for her to focus on that when Rousey’s focusing on other things herself.
[Photo (c) Matt Roberts via USA Today Sports]
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