What's next for Holly Holm?

What's left for Holly Holm in MMA?

With a second unsuccessful try at UFC Featherweight gold, former Bantamweight title holder Holly 'The Preachers Daughter' Holm finds herself at yet another cross roads in her mixed-martial arts career. Losing her Bantmaweight title to Miesha Tate at UFC 196, Holm was outpointed by Valentina Shevchenko and then in a hugely controversial inaugural 145lbs meeting, ended up on the wrong end of a decision to Germaine de Randamie. the Jackson Wink product subsequently recovered in her main event clash against Bethe Correia with a highlight reel question mark kick KO to reinstate herself into the title frame at both 135 and 145lbs. Facing defending champion Cris Cyborg in her second tilt at Featherweight success, Holm did well in the opening round or two to land a similar left straight counter which she utilized against Ronda Rousey, but from the championship rounds onward, Cyborg under the guidance of Jason Parillo, landed a big right hand every time Holm looked to engage, resulting in a noticeable haematoma over the left eye of Holly. Constant octagon control and accuracy from the Brazilian eventually seen her remain the crown holder at 145lbs, with Megan Anderson waiting in the wings as the next challenger. So, where does this leave Holly Holm?

Germaine de Randamie rematch:  Whether it occurs at Bantamweight or Featherweight, the UFC have to run this one back in the near future, for obvious reasons. After the pairs highly controversial meeting in the main event of UFC 208, GDR was slated by many in the MMA community for her refusal to face then #1 contender Cris Cyborg and was subsequently stripped by the promotion, with Cyborg later facing UFC newcomer Tonya Evinger for the vacant title. The two kickboxing icons are currently still listed in the Bantamweight top 5 so a win for either would see them realistically on the brink of a title tilt in either aforementioned division's. GDR is yet to compete since that February 2017 meeting with ligament damage in her hand leaving the Utrecht striker on the sidelines. Time to see this one again in the coming months.

Cat Zingano vs. Ketlen Vieira loser: With the victor of this Bantamweight bout expected to receive a title shot due to the pregnancy of Julianna Pena and the injury to expected title chaser 'Rocky' Raquel Pennington, why not match the loser of this match up with the former division champ Holm. One of the best in the division Zingano, has been quite unlucky in recent years with constant nagging injuries and of course the unfortunate death of her husband back in 2014, seeing her last octagon appearance occurring at UFC 200 in a narrow defeat to Julianna Pena. 'Alpha' Cat has now been paired with Brazilian up start Ketlen Vieira at UFC 222 in March, with the undefeated Manaus native most recently adding to the 2 UFC wins with an arm triangle finish over Sarah McMann. Zingano would prove a much more deadlier match up for 'The Preachers Daughter' with her accomplished grappling, and dangerous striking which has seen her dispatch the mother to be Miesha Tate, the aforementioned Pennington and of course, current division queen Amanda Nunes, before a 14 second armbar loss to Ronda Rousey in her one and only UFC quest for gold to date.

Please like, comment and follow for daily MMA news and opinions.

Requests:markeyross198.RM@gmail.com

•Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ross_Markey

•Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RossMarkeyMMA/ - https://www.facebook.com/martialartschat/

•Check out my work with Severe MMA: http://severemma.com/author/rossmarkey/

Ross