It’s hard to believe it’s only eight months since Holly Holm stunned the MMA world by taking Ronda Rousey’s crown in Melbourne.
But the 34-year-old has suffered back-to-back defeats since that night Down Under with the latest a surprise, but deserved, loss to Kyrgyzstan’s Valentina Shevchenko at UFC Chicago.
Blocked. But a beautiful counter spinning back-fist from @BulletValentina! #UFCChicago https://t.co/g1rAbZst32
— UFC (@ufc) July 24, 2016
Holm had lost the belt she won from Rousey to Miesha Tate at UFC 196, but had earmarked this fight to get back on track after that defeat.
Instead, Holm goes back to the drawing board while Shevchenko targets a rematch with Amanda Nunes, who she lost to in March at UFC 196, for the bantamweight title.
.@BulletValentina wants the champ Nunes! #UFCChicago https://t.co/mZLopEY1Zg
— UFC (@ufc) July 24, 2016
After the fight, Nunes seemed to rule out that possibility for the time being saying that Shevchenko should fight Julianna Peña with the winner getting a shot at her title.
I feel she needs to prove herself a little more. I think @VenezuelanVixen vs @BulletValentina. Winner comes to me
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) July 24, 2016
Holm’s next step is less clear.
“I know I’m capable of more,” she said after the defeat.
“I think I just need to believe in myself a little more. Like I said, I know I can do more. I didn’t perform well tonight. Valentina is really tough, we know that.
“It’s not like I haven’t been taught the right things, it all comes down to my performance, it wasn’t great tonight.”
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