Remember This Story

It was, certainly, a head kick heard around the world.  Holly Holm knocked out erstwhile unbeaten Ronda Rousey to win the UFC World Women's Bantamweight Championship.  As referee Herb Dean stopped the fight, the world reacted with shock, disbelief, inspiration and "I told you so's," but here's the thing.

It's not a story of the perils of living a rockstar life.  Yes, Rousey had movie and commercial shoots, TV guestings and events, but she's always been a strong woman who could multi-task. there was never an occasion where she didn't train enough.  People love to bring out this story to any fighting champion with crossover personality, but there was never an occasion where she didn't train enough.  Rousey is a training junkie. She made weight and didn't look dehydrated.

It's not a story of hubris or good vs evil either.  Yes, Rousey had the scowl, the fighting words, the weigh in snafu and the refusal to touch gloves while Holm was gracious and mostly silent. But to infer that one protagonist is good while the other is bad makes no real observation other than the commenter is a casual fight fan.  Fights are fought outside the ring as much as in it and fighters build and cultivate the personas that help them win.  Holm projects the "I'm silent but I am a killer" vibe; Rousey projects the "I will get on you and destroy you" vibe.  Neither lady is as simple as just the persona they project.



No, this is a story of a fight.  As much as fights are physical, they are more mental, tactical, emotional and stylistic than anything else.

This is a story of courage.  In 2011, Holm fought Sophie Mathis and after getting hit hard, Holly decided against running to preserve her lead.  She was then viciously knocked out.  Rousey had the same courage as Holm was picking her apart.  She could have stopped attacking to avoid getting hurt, but like Holm, she decided to attack more.

This is a story of Holm's mental toughness.  She's a lady who, after getting viciously knocked out on her feet, accepted a rematch with Mathis as her first fight back.  That toughness allowed her to look at Rousey and see her as an opponent and not a conqueror; something none of Rousey's previous opponents ever could.

This is a story of how Holm's plan A forced Ronda's plan B.  As much as Rousey was lit up on their feet, she tried and did get Holm down. An arm bar attempt blocked, Holm made sure not to stay on the ground again, even quickly standing up when she took Rousey down.  It was more of Holm's ability to stick to plan A and her ability to keep the fight standing up and much, much less Rousey's ability to do so.


Yes, UFC 193 is a landmark moment for fight fans, a must see event.  At the end of the day, though, it is still just the story of a fight.  Any attempts to make it otherwise, does both Holly Holm and Ronda Rousey, two equally talented and strong women, a disservice.


photos courtesy of Yahoo Sports