She Knows Her Sports: Holly Holm isn't buying that 'hype monster' Ronda Rousey was creat
- By David St. Martin for MMA
- Nov 25, 2015
- 3 min read
Was Ronda Rousey just a cultural phenomenon created by the media?
I'll never tell, but that's a take being offered up by former UFC contender Chael Sonnen.
Reacting to those comments on ESPN Radio with Dan Le Batard, Holm says Rousey deserves credit for even garnering that media attention in the first place.
"I think she was really able to run though people, though," Holm said of Rousey. "She was kind of able to run through the girls in the division, but yes, everybody is beatable. I knew that. I'm not as bold as Chael to go out and say that.
There was media around her but she was able to go in and take care of these girls so I hate to say that she's all hype. That's not what it is.
"She's been able to do well with all of this pressure on her and she's been able to perform. I don't take anything away from her performance but I'm one of those that believe every fighter is beatable and I didn't want to listen to all the hype. That's why I was able to get in there and do my business."
Holm put Rousey away early in the second round with a head kick knockout Nov. 15 at UFC 193. Aside from a brief moment on the mat, Holm never appeared to be in serious trouble against Rousey.
"After I landed the first few straight lefts that landed solid I thought, 'You know what? Yup, I can do this,'" Holm said. "I never felt like, 'Oh, this is in the bag.' Anything can happen in a fight. Until the knockdown happened with the kicks and I knew I could finish her did I really let that sink in like, 'Oh, I got her.'
"Anything can happen in there, especially with someone like Ronda that can pull off an armbar in two seconds or land that solid punch and drop you. There's a lot of things to watch out for even if you're dominating. Anything can happen in a fight."
“It’s good to have good competition. Clearly, [Yulia] is on the rise on this tour.” On the rise indeed — but hasn’t yet elevated to Venus’ hard-won status. But hey, let’s not forget that Miss Williams has a whopping 15 years on the rookie athlete. Yulia’s still got some time!
The dual wins set up a potential fourth-round showdown for the sisters. Serena will face Britain’s Heather Watson in the third round, while Venus takes on Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic. It is the first time either has faced her opponent. Watson is the last British woman remaining in the draw. “Heather Watson plays so well on the grass and I never like playing the Brits at home,” Serena said. “I've nothing to lose. I just hope to have fun.” "Serena's a great player, an amazing athlete, a great champion," Watson said. "She's probably the toughest opponent you can get at the moment."
Not probably. Definitely. Serena is definitely the hardest opponent to face right now, if not ever.
The Williams sisters pulled out of Wimbledon doubles so that they can each concentrate on singles. Serena is seeking to become the first player to complete a calendar-year Grand Slam since Steffi Graf did so in 1988.
Fellow American Sloane Stephens, once billed as the heir to the Williams’ sisters throne atop women’s tennis, advanced to the third round with a 6-4, 6-4 win over fellow American Lauren Davis. So far five American women have advanced to the third round, with two more set to play second-round matches on Thursday.
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