In the press frenzy before her UFC title bout with Holly Holm yesterday, the then twelve-time undefeated Ronda Rousey bragged it would be impossible for Holm to knock her out. The world, of course, agreed. Rousey has made a name for herself as not just a world-class female fighter, but as one of the best mixed martial artists of either sex.
The battle began with an aggressive Rousey refusing to tap gloves – a sign of respect – and charging in immediately. Holm countered by meeting her attacks an rebuking them, countering by landing a solid 29 of 38 attempted strikes to Rousey’s head. Fifty-nine seconds into the second round, the unthinkable happened – a calm Holm smashed Rousey’s jaw and followed with a kick in the neck that dropped her, and her title, to the mat.