UFc female bantamweight Holly Holm isn’t about to provide Miesha Tate with any added ammunition ahead of UFC 196 this Saturday night.
The two will meet in the co-main event from Las Vegas and the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
During open workouts on Wednesday, Holm (10-0) was asked her thoughts on a potential late-2016 rematch with Ronda Rousey. The former world boxing champion knocked Rousey out last year to win the belt.
“At this point, I’m not looking past March 5,” Holm said (thanks to MMAjunkie.com for the quotes). “That’s as far as my mind will let me go, that’s as far as my heart and my passion will let me go.
“You’re never promised another fight. I want to make sure I make the most of this fight and not look past it.”
Originally, UFC officials wanted to pair Holm and Rousey up for an immediate rematch. However, the former U.S. Olympic bronze medalist requested time off following her first career loss in 13 pro bouts.
Instead, Holm gets Tate, who is a former Strikeforce champion and has won four of her six UFC fights as part of a 17-5 career record.
“When I first signed with the UFC, everybody was talking about the title fight with Ronda,” Holm said. “I still had to focus on the fights at hand before I could ever get there. And right now, I have Miesha in front of me, so I’m focusing on that.
“I’m glad the fans want to see things, because that’s why they’re in the stands. I just hope I give them fights that they want to see, and right now, Miesha’s next.”
The 34-year-old Holm has scored Octagon victories over Rousey, Marion Reneau and Raquel Pennington after winning fights in Legacy FC and Bellator MMA. She has finished seven of her 10 opponents via knockout.
