Holly Holm wants Ronda Rousey rematch, but only if Rousey is still 'passionate' about fighting
LAS VEGAS -- When Holly Holm was still in boxing, she was asked a lot about Laila Ali.
The daughter of all-time great Muhammad Ali was one of the best female boxers of her generation, retiring with a 24-0 record. However, many felt she should return, because she didn't fulfill all of her prodigious potential. Other champions like Ann Wolfe challenged Ali, but the fights never materialized.
Reporters asked Holm at the time whether she thought Ali should come out of retirement to face women like Wolfe. Holm always said no.
"If she doesn't want to fight, I don't want to watch her fight," Holm said Wednesday at the UFC 197 on-sale press conference. "I don't want to watch a fighter get in there that's not passionate about it."
Holm (10-0) is taking a similar tact these days when she's asked about Ronda Rousey. Sure, Holm would love a rematch with Rousey, the woman she beat via knockout to win the UFC women's bantamweight title at UFC 193 in November. But that's not a fight that interests her unless Rousey truly wants it.
"I would rather meet someone in the cage when they're passionate about it," Holm said. "I don't want it to be because they feel like they have to or because it's expected or other people are curious about it. It's Ronda's life. I want her to do what she wants to do."
Rousey (12-1) has a lot on her plate. She's filming two big-budget Hollywood movies the first half of this year. This weekend, she's hosting Saturday Night Live. Last week, news broke that she'll be starring in a movie with Tina Fey adapted from Rousey's "Do Nothing Bitch" speech from UFC 190 Embedded.
Because of all those things, UFC president Dana White said last week that Rousey would not be fighting at UFC 200 in July as planned. She understandably needs more time, because of her other obligations.
The uncertainty about Rousey's return timeframe is one of the reasons why Holm wanted to take another fight in the meantime. She'll defend her title for the first time against Miesha Tate in the co-main event of UFC 197 on March 5 in Las Vegas.
"For me, I want to keep fighting," Holm said. "And if Ronda wants to come back and that's her passion, great. If she wants to stay in movies, great."
Holm is 34 years old and has been a pro in combat sports since 2002. It's her desire to fight as much as she can -- maybe three or four times per year -- before her career comes to a close.
Rousey told TMZ this week that a rematch is what she wants and she's hoping to return sometime after UFC 200 on July 9. Holm would be down, provided that is something Rousey definitely wants to do.
"If Ronda wants to fight, awesome," Holm said. "If she wants to go into the different avenues of her life, great. Whatever."