Holm open to Cyborg fight at 140
Holly Holm: “I was just kind of holding on to see if I could get the rematch for the belt. I’m not against fighting Cyborg. It just didn’t seem like the right time.”
Former UFC champion Holly Holm said she was open to a catchweight fight in the UFC with Invicta FC featherweight champion CrisCyborg. Holm, the most decorated boxer in MMA history, has boxed as high as 152. However, Holm was offered a fight with Cyborg at UFC 198, and declined.
During a recent interview with sports personality Dave Ross on 120 Sports, Holm explain that it was simply a matter of timing.
“I was just kind of holding on to see if I could get the rematch for the belt,” explained Holm, as transcribed by Marc Raimondi for MMA Fighting. “I’m not against fighting Cyborg. It just didn’t seem like the right time.”
“I’m not even stuck on the 135 compared to the 140 stuff. It’s not really a big thing for me.”
“In boxing, I fought in three weight classes. I’m not gonna say that I’m against going at 140. I actually think Cyborg might be able to do 135. Who knows? But that’s definitely something that could be an option for the future. I’m actually really happy for her victory. I really like Cyborg. I think she’s a great gal.”
In the end, Holm didn’t get her rematch; that went to Amanda Nunez at UFC 200 on July 9. Holm fights Valentina Shevchenko on July 23 at UFC on FOX 20. And Leslie Smith accepted the Cyborg fight, and lost in the first at UFC 198; the game Smith was upset only that the ref didn’t allow the fight to go longer.
