TLDR
- Holly Holm says she’s ready to rematch Ronda Rousey at any time
- Holm knocked out Rousey at UFC 193 in November 2015
- Dana White claims Holm rejected ‘life-changing money’ for an immediate rematch
- Holm lost her title to Miesha Tate instead of facing Rousey again
- Rousey retired from MMA in 2016 after losses to Holm and Amanda Nunes
Sources: MMA Mania | Yahoo Sports | MMAWeekly.com
Holly Holm says she remains willing to fight Ronda Rousey again, nearly a decade after their first meeting in the octagon. The former UFC bantamweight champion recently confirmed she would accept a rematch at any time.
“I’m still here,” Holm said when asked about the possibility of facing Rousey again. “I’ve always been open to that.”
"I still miss MMA, but after being back in the boxing ring, it's like, wow… I still love this, too.
I never got to fight at 135 in boxing, and that's where some of the biggest fights are right now… I've always wanted to be fighting the top girls for big fights."
Holly Holm… pic.twitter.com/uEiEnMgPfo
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 16, 2025
Holm shocked the MMA world when she knocked out Rousey with a head kick at UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia, in November 2015. The victory ended Rousey’s 12-fight winning streak and her reign as UFC bantamweight champion.
The fight became one of the most watched events in UFC history. Rousey had been considered nearly unbeatable before facing Holm.
The Rematch That Never Happened
UFC President Dana White has repeatedly claimed that Holm made a major mistake by not agreeing to an immediate rematch with Rousey. White said the decision cost Holm millions of dollars.
“She ruined her life,” White said about Holm’s choice to reject the rematch offer. He described the money involved as “life-changing.”
Instead of facing Rousey again, Holm defended her title against Miesha Tate at UFC 196 in March 2016. Tate won the fight by submission in the fifth round, taking the belt from Holm.
The loss meant Holm’s championship reign lasted only 126 days. Many fans and experts believed the rematch with Rousey would have been a bigger payday and a more winnable fight for Holm.
Rousey eventually returned to the octagon at UFC 207 in December 2016. She faced Amanda Nunes for the bantamweight title but lost by knockout in just 48 seconds.
That fight turned out to be Rousey’s last in MMA. She retired from the sport and moved to professional wrestling with WWE.
Current Status of Both Fighters
Holm continues to compete in the UFC at age 43. She has fought top contenders in the bantamweight division and has challenged for titles multiple times since losing to Tate.
And that is what Ronda still seems to miss. Fans did not turn on her because she lost to Holly Holm. They reacted to how she handled it afterward.
She essentially disappeared, acted like no one deserved to hear from her, then came back to fight Amanda Nunes only under the… pic.twitter.com/lyBnavWizu
— AFeldmanMMA (@afeldMMA) October 30, 2025
Her record since defeating Rousey has been mixed. Holm has won some fights against quality opponents but has also suffered losses in title fights.
Rousey, meanwhile, has not competed in MMA since 2016. She spent several years in WWE before stepping away from full-time professional wrestling as well.
The former champion has appeared in movies and television shows. She has not publicly indicated any interest in returning to MMA competition.
White’s comments about Holm’s decision continue to resurface when the rematch topic comes up. He has maintained that the immediate rematch would have been the biggest fight available at the time.
Holm’s recent statements show she holds no grudges about how events unfolded. She emphasized her willingness to fight Rousey if the opportunity arose today, though such a matchup appears unlikely given Rousey’s retirement from the sport.
