just waking up, drink coffee #1, didnt see this thread, so I'll just CnP what I wrote in the other one...
"I agree with most of whats been posted previously, just to add 2¢...
Holms transition to mma has looked stiff, shes a quintessential example of boxer->mma, and it hasn't looked good. yet. and maybe never. but... there's a maybe.
we can skip most discussion about RR, what she's good at, where she can flatten most opponents: walk forward, hand trap to clich, and it's really over by then. And simply, intimidation factor. Most of her fights are won before she steps in the cage.
What she hasn't faced is an actually good boxer. Tate is the closest we've seen to a "quality striker", and given us her longest fight(s). (McMann actually takes second, but its... 3 secs longer than Tates shorter fight? aaanyway) ((I am totally not a stats person, I am just guessing here, but I'll go look that up, so I don't look like as asshole...)) {{ Sorry, it was Carmouche}}
Holm has that toolset. A distance fighter, a bit (hehe
) reluctant to engage in the clinch, and most importantly, can
work angles. At least potentially. This has been a key that Tate used, along with a jab, to disrupt RRs "catch and kill" successful strategy. Because, if we're being honest, RRs standup is... "not great". Yeah, she KO'ed Bethe, but it wasn't pretty, and the intimidation factor was a big part of it. (Do you
see the look of fear on Bethes face as she was backing up? Again, that fight was over before it started.)
I have high hopes for Holm, I tend to think that a basic boxing skillset is often anemic in mma fighters, and it could really serve her well if she rounds out that skillset, but she is
no where near ready to be fighting RR, sadly.
/rant"
all that being said, im actually surprised at the stupidity of this matchup. so shortsighted. "take great potential, throw it away because... why?"