Ronda Rousey insisted that her seventh defense of the UFC bantamweight title would not go her opponent’s way. Fans urged her to reconsider returning to the Octagon as the sport evolved during her absence. UFC’s first female champion broke barriers and dominated opponents for years with her superior skills. Her knockout loss to Holly Holm in UFC 193 ended one of the most iconic runs in mixed martial arts history. The defeat also marked a changing of the guard, even though Rousey predicted her opponent’s strategy but could not stop it.
Rousey Anticipated Holm’s Strategy
Rousey knew precisely how Holly Holm would try to beat her at UFC 193. Long before Kayla Harrison entered the Octagon, Rousey used her judo and grappling expertise to dominate fights on the ground. Holm’s victory exposed critical weaknesses in Rousey’s overall game, marking the first defeat of her career. Dana White defended Rousey’s approach, despite critics saying Holm easily controlled distance and landed strikes freely. Rousey admitted her game plan faltered early, yet she understood how Holm would try to win.
In an appearance on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ just over a month before UFC 193, Rousey predicted her downfall. “This one’s gonna be a much longer fight… She’s the type of fighter you have to be patient with,” Rousey said. “I feel like she’s going to keep distance and frustrate me until I make a mistake. She’ll try to kick me in the head, but it’s not going to go her way.”
Confidence Ahead of the Fight
Rousey had no reason to doubt herself heading into UFC 193. She praised Holm’s skills and recognized her style would challenge her. Rousey faced little adversity in the Octagon until that point, with her previous four title defenses ending in the first round. Only one of those fights lasted beyond a minute. “If I make the fight fast, that means I like you,” Rousey said during a 2015 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. “That’s me at my most merciful. She got paid and had a good night. But this next opponent, I don’t like, and she will leave looking different than when she entered.”
