During a recent interview with ESPN.com, newly-signed UFC Women’s Bantamweight fighter Holly Holm says she’s fine with Gina Carano getting an immediate title shot against Ronda Rousey if she does indeed sign with UFC this week. The “Preacher’s Daughter” told ESPN:
“Carano has been on the big show before, so she can handle the pressure. There are a lot of girls who have been working hard for a shot who might deserve it a little more than someone who has been out that long, but Carano has put a lot of time in before. She’s earned her spot in certain ways. Who am I to say Carano is undeserving of an opportunity? I’ll let the promoter make those decisions.”
As far as deciding who joins the promotion’s pound-for-pound list, that’s up to the mixed martial arts (MMA) media, who has division queenpin Ronda Rousey sitting pretty at No. 9, beating out welterweight champion Johny Hendricks and men’s 135-pound titleholder TJ Dillashaw (see the full list here).
Holm, who is still recovering from recent arm surgery, is expected to have only one or two tune-up fights before she’s put in the title picture.
With Ronda Rousey ranked #9 in UFC’s “Pound For Pound” rankings, Holm spoke about women fighters being ranked alongside their male counterparts:
“I know there is a certain strength in men that is a little different in females but personally I would like to be on a pound-for-pound list that’s mixed. It’s a compliment. Heck yeah, let’s do it. In 2008, I was nominated for an ESPY for best fighter of the year. I knew I wasn’t going to win. I was up against Floyd Mayweather, Kelly Pavlik and Georges St-Pierre, but I’ll tell you, it was more of an honor for me to be nominated best fighter of the year than female athlete of the year because I was grouped in with those guys.”
