The Preacher's Daughter
Holly Holm
Origin Story
The Early Years
Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Holly Holm grew up as the daughter of a preacher — a detail that would define both her character and her nickname for the rest of her career. She began competing in aerobics and fitness competitions as a teenager before discovering kickboxing at sixteen.
It was the discipline of the gym, not the spectacle of the sport, that drew her in. Under the guidance of coaches in Albuquerque, she developed the precision, patience, and footwork that would eventually carry her to the top of three different combat sports.
Boxing Career
Multi-World Boxing Champion
Before Holly Holm was a UFC champion, she was one of the most decorated female boxers in the world. Competing across multiple weight classes, she captured world championship belts from the WBA, WBC, IBF, and IBA — the rare fighter who dominated across organizations simultaneously.
Her professional boxing record stands at 33 wins. The timing, distance management, and defensive precision she built in the boxing ring would later become her most dangerous weapons inside the octagon. Opponents underestimated those tools. They paid for it.
MMA Career
Into the Octagon
Holly transitioned to MMA in 2011, bringing with her a striking arsenal that few fighters in any weight class could match. She joined Jackson-Wink MMA in Albuquerque — one of the most storied gyms in the sport's history — and began the methodical process of adding the grappling and wrestling dimensions required to compete at the highest level.
Her path to the UFC title was deliberate. She climbed the bantamweight rankings with the same composure she had shown in boxing: never rushed, never rattled, always controlled. By the time the title shot came, she was ready.
UFC 193 · Melbourne, Australia
First Woman in History
to Knock Out Ronda Rousey
Bantamweight Title · R2, 0:59 · Head Kick + Punches
By the Numbers
See the Full Record