Holly Holm is set to go head to head with UFC women's bantam weight champion Ronda Rousey in the fight scheduled on Nov. 14 in Melbourne, Australia. However, the combat sport professional said that she's not intimidated by her popular opponent.
Holm trained and won as a professional boxer for years before switching to Mixed Martials Arts (MMA) in 2013. As the former world boxing champ is still making a name in the MMA arena, she's considered the underdog in her big fight with Rousey.
In the days before the game, Rousey has been telling the media she's positive she can beat the female boxer in their fight. MMA Junkie reported that Rousey doesn't think Holm will be able to handle becoming an MMA star if ever she wins. The undefeated champ seemingly suggested Holm doesn't want this championship as much.
"I don't think she would be comfortable with it," Rousey told the press. "It would take away from her quality of life. I don't think it is for some people."
Holm is brushing side Rousey's statements. She's on to her mind games and will not be intimidated by it. "I don't know how much she really wants to box," said Holm via Yahoo Sports. "And how much she just wants to play little mind games and the psychology of making people do what she wants to do."
According to Holm, Rousey's statement only confirms what her opponent is already thinking: in Rousey's mind Holm is the winner. "If she's basically saying 'if I win,' then she's got that thought in her head already, so that's awesome," Holm told Yahoo Sports.
The newcomer said that she has an "open-ended plan" against Rousey and will make adjustments to her strategy during the fight. "I don't want to go into the fight thinking, 'She's going to come out with this, so I'm going to throw this,'" she said. "A fight is unpredictable. That's why people love to watch fights. You don't know what's going to happen."
USA Today reported that Holm admitted she's getting nervous for a good reason. "If I didn't have nerves it would be like I didn't care if I win or lose. It is natural. I know I have big things ahead of me."
Meanwhile, MMA Fighting reported that Holm appears to be Rousey's toughest opponent yet. "She's gonna be a bigger challenge than ever," said Rousey in the press, but the MMA star is still certain she will remain unbeatable.
Below is a video of Rousey's last fight before facing Holm:
