Meet Holly Holm, the first fighter to hold a title in boxing and UFC

• Holly Holm is a well-known mixed martial artist who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
• She is widely regarded as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.
• Holly Holm is the first and only fighter to hold a title in boxing and UFC.

Holly Holm biography brings you facts about her early life, boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts career, as well as personal life.

Holly Holm is a well-known mixed martial artist who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Holly Holm. Photo/ MARCA.

The 41-year-old is widely regarded as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. She is a former UFC Women’s Bantamweight champion.

Before joining mixed martial arts, Holy Holm was a professional boxer and a kickboxer. BoxRec ranks the American international as the second-best female professional boxer of all time.

Holly Holm is the first and only fighter to hold a title in boxing and UFC.

Holly Holm Biography 

Full Name                                  Holly Rene Holm

Date of Birth                             October 17, 1981

Age                                              41

Place of Birth                           Albuquerque, New Mexico, US

Height                                        5 ft 8 in (173 cm)

Weight                                       135 lb (61 kg)

Profession                                  Mixed martial artist

Nationality                                American

Marital Status                          Divorced

Early Life 

Holly Holm biography states that she was born on October 17, 1981, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is the last child of Roger (father) and Tammy (mother).

Growing up, Holly Holm was an active child who played soccer and participated in swimming, diving and gymnastics.

Kickboxing Career 

Holly Holm began taking aerobics classes when she was 16 years old. Her trainer, Mike Winkeljohn, noticed she had the potential to become a fighter, so he started training her.

Holly Holm participated in the International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) USA National Amateur Championship tournament in September 2001 and won the championship title.

The American international has an amateur kickboxing record of 6-0-2.

Boxing Career 

Holly Holm’s first professional boxing match was against Martha Deitchman on January 25, 2002, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She won the fight via TKO.

Holm suffered her first boxing loss in her tenth match on June 27, 2004. She lost to Rita Turrisi via TKO.

The skilled fighter won the inaugural IBA female light welterweight title in her next bout, which was against Terri Blair.

She defended the title three times before winning her second championship, the inaugural WBA female welterweight title.

Holly Holm won the vacant IFBA light middleweight title on December 1, 2006, after defeating Tricia Turton via unanimous decision.

Holly Holm. Photo/ MMA Mania.

Three months later, she defeated Ann Saccurato to retain her WBA welterweight title and win the vacant WBC, IBA, GBU, WIBA and IFBA welterweight titles.

She won the vacant IBA female welterweight title on September 21, 2007, and the inaugural WBAN light middleweight title on June 13, 2008.

Holly Holm’s last professional boxing match was against Mary McGee on May 11, 2013. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

The American international has a pro boxing record of 33-3-2. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest female welterweight female boxers of all time.

MMA Career 

Holly Holm made her mixed martial arts debut on March 4, 2011, against Christina Domke. She won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Holm joined Bellator MMA and made her debut on February 28, 2013, at Bellator 91 in New Mexico. She won the fight, which was against Katie Merrill, in the second round.

The legendary boxer joined Legacy Fighting Championship a few months later and made her debut on July 19, 2013. She fought against Allana Jones, winning the bout in the second round.

Holm won the inaugural Legacy FC Women’s Bantamweight Championship on April 4, 2014, after defeating Juliana Werner.

The media announced on July 10, 2014, that Holly Holm had signed a deal with the UFC. She made her debut at UFC 184, defeating Raquel Pennington by a split decision.

Holly Holm became the second fighter to take Ronda Rousey past the first round (after Miesha Tate) when they met at UFC 193. She won the fight in the second round and became the Women’s Bantamweight champion.

Holly Holm. Photo/ ESPN.

Holm lost the title in her next fight against Miesha Tate at UFC 196. She faced Germaine de Randamie for the inaugural women’s featherweight championship at UFC 208 but lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Holm’s latest fight was against Ketlen Vieira at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas. She lost the bout via split decision.

Her MMA record is currently 14-6.

Personal Life 

Holly Holm biography would be incomplete without talking about her personal life. The 41-year-old has a close relationship with her parents and brothers.

Holm’s father is a Church of Christ preacher and her mother is a massage therapist.

Holly Holm married her college boyfriend, Jeff Kirkpatrick, in 2012. The couple separated in July 2019.

FAQs

What is Holly Holm’s net worth? 

She has an estimated net worth of $4 million.

How old is Holly Holm? 

41

Who is Holly Holm’s boyfriend?

Holm and her husband, Jeff Kirkpatrick, separated in 2019.

Does Holly Holm have kids? 

Holm has no kids.

How much does Holly Holm make a fight? 

She makes around $250,000 (including bonuses) per fight.