She was a champion poised to become one of the UFC’s biggest superstars, but after suffering her second loss on the bounce, it’s back to the drawing board for Holly Holm.
The woman who’s head kick knockout in Melbourne was heard around the world lost via unanimous decision to Valentina Shevchenko in UFC Chicago’s main event on Saturday night.
The Preacher’s Daughter was outworked over five rounds by the striking phenom and was forced to endure defeat’s bitter taste again in her comeback fight after losing the belt to Miesha Tate at UFC 196.
After the event, UFC reporter Megan Olivi caught up with Holm backstage to get her thoughts on the defeat. Holm had to fight away the tears during the interview admitting she was disappointed because, much like what happened to former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks at UFC 200, she knew her performance wasn’t up to scratch during the fight, but she didn’t make the requisite adjustments to rectify this.
“I’m just… angry (laughs nervously) at myself. That’s two losses back-to-back, so… what can you do?”
“I can’t say I was surprised by anything, I just didn’t perform to the best of my ability and I didn’t leave it all out there.”
“I had more to give, for sure. I knew it was a close fight, but I knew I had to do more. I never want it to be just a close fight. I never want it to be like that. You know… it’s still onward up… go forward.”