Ronda Rousey tipped for UFC return by Holly Holm following knockout loss

Holm handed Rousey the first defeat of her UFC career but has stressed that it takes something special just to get inside the Octagon

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Holly Holm has leapt to the defence of fellow UFC fighter Ronda Rousey less than a week after knocking her out to win the bantamweight championship, admitting that she does not want people to be too harsh in their criticism of her opponent.

Holm maintained her unbeaten record at the expense of Rousey’s after handing the 28-year-old American her first defeat in the UFC in stunning circumstances. Rousey was outclassed and outboxed at UFC 193 last Sunday, with Holm using her boxing experience to keep Rousey at range and deliver a brutal kick to the neck to finish the fight.

Rousey was left bloodied and bruised afterwards, and a number of critics – particularly those in the boxing world who believe Holm’s win was a victory for their sport over mixed martial arts [MMA] – were quick to suggest that Rousey had got it completely wrong and that her taunts of Holm had come back to haunt her.

However, appearing on ‘The Dan Patrick Show’ on Thursday, Holm defended Rousey and said it takes a certain type of person to have the nerve just to get into the Octagon, let alone flourish inside of it as Rousey did until Sunday.

“When you get in that Octagon, it’s one of the loneliest places in the world, because it’s only up to you to do it,” said Holm.

“A lot of people wouldn’t even have the nerve to be able to get in and just put it all on the line. Millions of people are watching you. And you might get knocked out, you might not. You might do well, you might not … There’s a reason why only certain people fight.

“You’re putting yourself out there and you know that people are going to say something one way or another. And it’s a brutal place to be but it’s what makes winning that awesome (and) makes losing that devastating.”

UFC men’s featherweight champion Jose Aldo has already been vocal this week in predicting that Rousey will not return to the Octagon given her Hollywood career as an actress, but Holm had kind words for Rousey – although the pair have not spoken since the fight – and believes it will not be long before she’s back in the sport.

"Any time you're on top, people are going to want to talk one way or another," Holm added. "She's been pretty vocal in her career, I think it's easier for people to want to pick at things. I think she's strong enough. She can handle that."

Holm continued: "I hope she's doing well. I know she's obviously been at the top for a reason. She's very dominant and a great athlete. She's been the reigning champion for a long time. I'm sure she'll come back soon.

"It's kind of a brutal place to be, but it's what makes winning that awesome and makes losing that devastating. But it makes winning that awesome. If you're a fighter, you're always chasing that feeling of that victory. That's why we do it."