Former UFC champion Holly Holm must find win as she eyes second world title

Former UFC bantamweight title holder Holly Holm must return to the win column if she wants one more shot at a world title. 

The 41-year- old multi-time world boxing champion is scheduled for a Saturday showdown with the No. 6-ranked women’s bantamweight, Yana Santos, at UFC on ESPN 43 in San Antonio. 

A potential win against Santos won’t guarantee Holm an immediate title shot, but it could kick off a run that would put “The Preacher’s Daughter” in position for another chance at UFC glory. 

Since losing to current champion Amanda Nunes in July of 2019, Holm has gone 2-1 inside the octagon. Her last fight came in May one year ago, when Holm lost by split decision to Ketlen Vieira.

Holm, who’s at the tailend of her 21-year fighting career, must outclass Santos upcoming in order to receive an easier path to a title chance.

“I think [being champion is] the only thing you need to be focused on if you’re in this game. If you don't want to be champion, what are you doing here,” Holm said at a news conference Wednesday. “

Santos (14-6-1 NC) has won four of her last six fights. The 33-year-old previously trained against Holm in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at Jackson Wink MMA . 

“Six years ago we trained a lot, sparred a lot, and we don’t have anything between us,” Santos said. “I only have respect for her before and after fight. I don’t take this personal. I’m still going to bring my best in the octagon.”

Despite recently signing a new six-fight UFC deal, Holm isn't looking past her current opponent.

When asked about retirement, she admitted to at one point questioning her ability to remain healthy, but would like to fight as she's able to keep up.

“In my mind, I want to stay young forever and fight forever so we’ll see what happens,” Holm said. 

Before her time in the UFC, Holm (33-2-3 in boxing) won multiple world titles across three different weight classes. She is a two-time Ring Magazine women’s fighter of the year (2005, 2006) and was inducted into the 2022 International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Holm made a full-time transition to MMA. At UFC 193, she finished Ronda Rousey to become the bantamweight champion—one of the greatest upsets in combat sports history.