Holly Holm will defend UFC title before rematch with Ronda Rousey
By Michael Kelleher
Last Updated: 07/01/16 12:20pm
UFC president Dana White has confirmed Holly Holm will defend her bantamweight title before her much-anticipated rematch with Ronda Rousey.
Holm (10-0) shocked the world in November when she knocked out Rousey at UFC 193 in Melbourne to win the belt in one of the biggest upsets in recent sports history.
A lucrative rematch has been widely anticipated since but it appears that will come later in the year, with Holm set to return to action against another opponent first.
"Holly Holm will fight before she fights Ronda," White revealed, speaking on UFC Tonight.
Rousey is scheduled to film two movies in the first half of 2016, meaning the earliest likely date for a rematch with Holm would be the much-anticipated UFC 200 in Las Vegas in July.
Holm outlined her reluctance to wait so long before defending her title earlier this week.
"I just don't want to wait around for things if they're not set in stone," Holm said, speaking on the MMA Hour on Monday.
"A lot of people have been talking about the rematch, but nobody really knows for sure. I haven't really heard if she really wants it yet or not or if she's occupied with some other things right now.
"I think that's the hardest part for me. I don't want to wait around for something that may not happen. I want to be able to fight soon. I like being active, because I love the sport."
There has been some speculation Rousey, who has forged a lucrative career outside the octagon, may never fight again but White was quick to shoot down any talk of retirement.
"You will see Ronda Rousey fight again," White said. "Ronda has some well-deserved time off, but she will fight this year."
White did not announce a date or opponent for Holm, but former title contender Miesha Tate is the most logical choice.
Tate has won four in a row since suffering her second loss to Rousey in December 2013 and was widely expected to get the next shot at her bitter rival when Holm was awarded the opportunity in November.
When asked if her next opponent would be Tate, Holm was coy but did say: "That's a fair guess.
"I think that fight makes a lot of sense to people. She was kind of the one that was in line for the title before they gave the fight to me. I think people are curious to see how it will go because this is a whole new title fight now."
