One of the best fights in female mixed martial arts (MMA) history is going down tomorrow night, and legacies will be made when it's all said and done in Las Vegas.
Former UFC women's bantamweight champion Holly Holm will be getting her second crack at the featherweight throne, when she takes on current champion Cris Cyborg in the main event of UFC 219 on pay-per-view (PPV).
Holm earned her claim to fame in the MMA world when she became the first-ever female to defeat Ronda Rousey inside the Octagon.
"The Preacher's Daughter" completely out-classed "The Rowdy One" in the stand-up department and unleashed a hellacious head-kick in the second round that rendered Rousey unconscious.
It was the first loss of Rousey's career. On the other side of the cage is Cris Cyborg who has been annihilating fellow female combatants with her ridiculous striking power, unknowingly hiding her Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt ability in the process.
This makes the match-up between Holm and Cyborg all the more interesting, as Holm has shown struggles in her ground game.
UFC President Dana White recently commented on the match-up between Holm and Cyborg, and said Holm has the opportunity to become the greatest female MMA fighter of all time with a potential win over Cyborg (quotes via MMA Fighting):
“This is the biggest fight of her career,” White said. “This is the true test for Cris Cyborg. If you look at Holly Holm: 13-time world boxing champion, multiple time kickboxing champion, beat Ronda Rousey and won the UFC title.
"Now Holm is moving up to 145 pounds and she’s actually a real 145-pounder - she’s tall, she’s big, she’s thick.
“[And] if Holly Holm wins this weekend, how can you argue that she’s not the greatest fighter of all time - female fighter?
“For Cris Cyborg, to win this fight, obviously it’s a big fight for her,” White said. “I think Holly Holm is her first real, true test.
"As far as the fight goes, Cyborg is a very aggressive fighter, knockout puncher, likes to move forward, aggressive and Holly Holm is a counterpuncher.
"She’s a great counterpuncher, and I actually expect this to be a great fight.”
What are your thoughts on Dana White's assessment of Holly Holm's combat sports career? Do you think that "The Preacher's Daughter" will become the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time if she can defeat Cyborg? And who do you think will walk away from the Octagon victorious this weekend? Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below!
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