It appears that Holly Holm is set to fight before her Ronda Rousey rematch.
UFC Dana White appeared on Wednesday’s edition of UFC Tonight to make several announcements, the biggest of which was Holm’s future plans.
While rumours had been circling regarding a fight between the Womens Bantamweight champion and number 2 ranked Miesha Tate, nothing had yet been confirmed on an official level by the UFC.
However, after Holm signed a bumper new contract earlier this week, it appears as if a new fight has been negotiated. Holm had previously mentioned her disapproval of waiting for the mega-fight Rousey rematch at UFC 200 in July.
If, as it’s suspected, Holm is set to face Tate, then the bout could take place in Washington state of which Tate is a resident. As yet, no location (or indeed opponent) has been announced.
The move represents a risk for the company, and with it they gamble on the guaranteed money-maker, where they’d sign Holly Holm to fight the Rousey rematch.
For Rousey, the announcement signals the UFC’s decision to award her some long needed time off, which its said she’ll be using to film a couple of motion pictures and host Saturday Night Live.
Holm’s wasn’t the sole announcement that White made on the show.
He also revealed that Conor McGregor will be allowed to hold onto his UFC Featherweight title while he moves up in weight to challenge for the Lightweight belt. If he wins that, he’ll hold both belts and move up and down in weights to defend both.
“Conor has said that he would like to win the 155-pound belt and fight four times a year and defend both belts,” White said. “If anybody can do it, Conor McGregor can. This guy has pretty done everything he said he would do. I’m interested.
“That is true that normally I would say if you’re going to move up in weight, you have to give up the belt. But Conor has done everything he said he would do. He loves to fight. He really likes money, so if anybody could do it, it’s probably him.”
Such a move is unprecedented in the UFC, but as we repeatedly learn, the rules seem not to apply to the charismatic Irishman. It’s unknown yet if McGregors next fight will be to defend his Featherweight belt, or to move up to 155lbs.
