Holly Holm down to rematch returning Miesha Tate: ‘I always like to avenge losses’
Holly Holm hopes she gets the chance to cross paths with Miesha Tate again now that her former foe is back to active competition.
Holm (14-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) and Tate (18-7 MMA, 5-4 UFC) first met at UFC 196 in March 2016. Holm entered as the UFC women’s bantamweight champion just months removed from upsetting Ronda Rousey, and she came just minutes away from recording her first title defense.
Then Tate pulled off a dramatic title fight comeback. She rallied in the fifth round with a critical takedown, then locked in a fight-ending rear-naked choke to claim the thrown, giving Holm her first loss in MMA competition.
With Tate recently coming out of retirement after more than four years and booked to fight Marion Reneau on July 17, Holm has the rematch on her radar. However, she’s not going to forego greater ambitions to get it.
“My plan is to compete for the belt, so if that fight ends up being on the way there, then absolutely,” Holm said Tuesday on an ESPN+ Q&A hosted by Laura Sanko. “I always like to avenge losses no matter what, so yes, I would like to do that, but I think sometimes you can get so fixated on one fight that you’re not focused on whatever is coming your way.”
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At 39, Holm has no time to waste when it comes to deviating from the ultimate prize. She cares more about regaining the UFC belt than beating the specific fighter who took it from her more than five years ago.
Holm was recently forced to pull out of a matchup with Julianna Pena on May 8 that could’ve capitulated her into another title shot. She said her withdrawal came due to the medical condition hydronephrosis, which is an issue that results in blockage from the kidney to the bladder.
According to Holm, she’s experienced hydronephrosis for the entirety of her life, but only recently did it become a noticeable issue. She underwent a procedure and is back on track to return to training and start looking toward another fight, and she wants it to be one that can lead her to the title.
If that opponent happened to be Tate, then Holm wouldn’t mind at all.
“Whatever gets you to the belt, that’s my ultimate goal and it would be awesome if I could go through and do it all,” Holm aid. “Avenge my loss (to Tate), then go to the belt.”
