Holm turned down Cyborg fight, wants Tate rematch

When Leslie Smith stepped up to fight Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, UFC president Dana White hailed the move, saying none of the other top contenders had offered to. For example, former bantamweight champion Holly Holm was offered the fight at UFC 198, but her management determined that a rematch with Miesha Tate or Ronda Rousey was in her best interests.

In boxing, Holm was promoted by Lenny Fresquez?. In boxing, Fresquez would have seen that there was an automatic rematch clause, as Holm was his money ticket. But Frequez now serves as her manager, the promoter is the UFC.

This one’s definitely a little more out of my hands, Holm said Wednesday, as transcribed by Rick Wright for the Albuquerque Journal. (In boxing), I knew that Lenny would give me the opportunity as long as I wanted it. This is a whole different situation.

I really want that rematch, but I’m not the one with the title now. I’m not the one with the belt. So I have to be patient and wait for that opportunity to come.

Right now, what’s on my heart is the rematch. [But] I don’t necessarily want to be too picky, either. I’m the one coming off a loss. I can’t expect to have everything handed to me, so we’ll see what happens.

Fresquez said he had reached out to UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta about the rematch.

Miesha was in Australia on vacation, so they were supposed to get with her this week, said Fresquez. Hopefully, in the next couple of weeks we’ll know.

But whether it’s Miesha or Ronda, those are the fights we’re interested in.

(Fighting Rousey or Tate) is pretty much what Holly wants to do. If they have something else, it’s my job to present it to her. I’ve made her wishes known to them.

Fresquez also said a catchweight fight with Cris ‘Cyborg’ was offered, but declined.

We were not interested in [a fight with Cyborg] right now,” he said. “(Holm) just wants to fight Miesha.