UFC president Dana White is not impressed with Holly Holm’s manager Lenny Fresquez, and hasn’t been since ever since. The pair were at odds over Holm’s worth when she first signed with the league. And they were hugely at odds over Holm not waiting for a rematch with Ronda Rousey. That rematch was expected to be the biggest fight in UFC history, with a payday for the defending champion to boot.
“The sad part about that whole thing is, and listen, he’s an old boxing guy who thinks he’s smart and he isn’t,” said White of Fresquez on ESPN’s Russillo & Kanell, as transcribed by David St. Martin for MMA Fighting. “The thing I feel bad about is I feel bad for Holly because I don’t know if Holly really knows what she lost. I think she has so much faith in the people that surround her she feels like, ‘Well, they’ve got me here.’ We had this meeting and Holly wasn’t even in it. Holly, that’s your life! You should be in that meeting. Don’t leave it to these people, this guy. Oh my god.
“Listen, Holly made a lot of money, she accomplished great things, she beat Ronda Rousey, but it could have been so much bigger for her. The sad part is I don’t [think she even knows.]”
ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reached out to Fresquez, for comment about White’s charge that Holm may not be informed fully about what she lost.
“Of course, she knows,” said Fresquez. “It was a team decision, and Holly is the boss. She wanted to fight, and she got her wish. I think she’ll fight Miesha or Ronda next. That’s my personal feeling, but who knows what the UFC has cooking? Holly was dominant in that fight against Miesha except for the second and fifth round. She paid for it. Hat’s off to Miesha for capitalizing.
“What happens next is the UFC’s decision. All I can speak to are Holly’s wishes. Holly wants to fight Miesha right away. She wants to fight Ronda Rousey. Even with the title, a fight between Miesha and Rousey doesn’t have the glamor a fight with Holly and Ronda does. Yeah, Holly lost. She made a mistake, but she’ll learn from it. Everyone saw she’s a warrior.”
