Second-round KO: Ronda Rousey suffers first defeat

Holly Hom the new Women’s Bantamweight champion after shock win in Melbourne

Holly Holm strikes defending champion Ronda Rousey in the Women’s Bantamweight Bout during the UFC 193 Australia event at Etihad stadium in Melbourne. Photograph: EPA
Holly Holm strikes defending champion Ronda Rousey in the Women’s Bantamweight Bout during the UFC 193 Australia event at Etihad stadium in Melbourne. Photograph: EPA

Ronda Rousey's unbeaten record was ended on Saturday night, in emphatic style by Holly Holm - the new UFC Women's Bantamweight champion.

Holm took the title via a second-round KO at UFC 193 in Melbourne - one of the biggest shocks in the sport’s history.

Rousey was left concussed and with face wounds - leaving her unable to attend the post-match press conference. She was grounded by a kick in the second round, before Hom finished her with a flurry of punches forcing the referee to intervene.

After the fight UFC chief Dana White was already talking up a rematch - one which he said would make "a lot of sense."

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“(Rousey) was transported (to hospital) because she got knocked out, obviously she’s completely bummed out and depressed.

“Obviously we don’t make fights the night of the fight, but the rematch makes a lot of sense,” he said. “The rematch is what the people want to see.

“At the end of the day I made this fight. I said this was a good fight. Holly was the right fight. Ronda had never faced anybody who uses the range and distance the way she does.

“This woman has four times more fights than Ronda does. She’s been a world champion,” he added.

Holm said after the fight that the win was just reward for her efforts in preparation. Rousey was unbeaten through 12 UFC fights before meeting Holm, and a win on Saturday night would have been her seventh title defence.

“She’s won a lot of fights and imposed her will on a lot of fighters,” Holm said. “So I expected her to be aggressive and impose her will on me.

“We figured her aggression was coming, if it didn’t that’s OK, but with footwork and my career we figured she wouldn’t give me that space. There’s been a lot of blood, sweat and tears but it was all worth it.

“This fight was a lot for me mentally, I couldn’t tell you how many times I cried in the gym leading up to this fight.

“It’s a lot to take in, but those kinds of fights are the ones where a loss is devastating but a win is that sweet of a victory.”