UFC 208: Holly Holm can make history and change her luck all in one night

Holly Holm (USA Today)

This time last year Holly Holm was on top of the world. “The Preacher’s Daughter” beat Ronda Rousey to become the UFC Bantamweight Champion. She shocked the world, and had a wave of momentum coming out of UFC 193. That wave went crashing down fast a few months later.

Since the “upset”, Holm (10-2) lost the title at UFC 196 to Miesha Tate via submission. She then lost to Valentina Shevchenko at UFC on Fox 20 in convincing fashion. She ended up being in an interesting situation: from the top of the world to just another fighter. That’s looking to change as she tries to make history once again. Holm will main event UFC 208 in Brooklyn against Germaine de Randamie (6-3) for the newly created UFC Women’s Featherweight Title.

This Saturday, Holm has a chance to change the script to her story. By moving up a weight class, there are a lot of opportunities here. While there aren’t any other contenders within this division (since it just started), Saturday’s bout could result in endless possibilities.

Holly actually looks up to Rousey as an example in creating a successful division. Speaking at the UFC 208 media call (courtesy of MMA Fighting), the 35-year old former kickboxer and boxer stated that Ronda built the division from nothing. There are women who want the opportunity to shine and they have to start somewhere. That is where she is at right now. This fight is the start of something new.

A former boxer, Holly is pretty familiar with this new weight class. Holm fought between 140-147 pounds inside the ring. It wasn’t just one fight that defined her as a great boxer either; it was all of them. Speaking to UFC.com, Holm made sure to emphasize she wants to be remembered for more than just beating Ronda Rousey inside the octagon. She stated:

“I don’t want my whole career to be defined around getting the belt from Ronda. I want my career to be defined by me being the best fighter I can be and accomplishing the biggest things I can against whatever competition comes in front of me. I want this for me, for my career. I don’t want it to be just around the one fight. I don’t want people to only remember that. I want them to remember everything after. I want to be able to do a lot in this career still.”

It’s understandable that she wants to extend her legacy. When given the chance, Holm has stepped up to the plate. She’ll look to prove her critics wrong and do it again at UFC 208.

Many will praise the winner of this bout, whoever it may be, just like they did for Rousey. It’s a chance for history, and for some (Holm), redemption. Her and Randamie could turn a bout many disregarded when it was first announced into the fight of the night, maybe even year. Now that would be great to see.

Regardless of who wins, history will be made on Saturday. For Holly, she may feel right at home, which could be dangerous for Randamie. We will find out soon if this fight will bring Holly Holm back on top of the world, or if Randamie will make it three losses in a row for her.