If there is one fighter who is familiar about crossing over from one combat sport to another, it is Holly Holm. The former multiple-time world boxing champion did not only transition into MMA to put it on her record, she actually went on to capture the UFC women’s bantamweight champion against Ronda Rousey, shocking the world in the process.
When asked about the much buzzed about super-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor, Holm is one of those that refused to count McGregor out right away. She also disagrees that the fight is a “black eye” to boxing, while slightly hitting at its critics.
“If McGregor wins, its going to be earlier,” Holm said during her recent MMA interview (via MMA Fighting). “If it goes longer, it’s going to be Floyd Mayweather. Anything can happen in a fight. I don’t think it’s a disgrace. I think if anyone’s out there making fun of this fight, I can guarantee you that those are the people who don’t fight.”
Recently, Tristar Gym coach Firas Zahabi claimed that McGregor’s best chance against Mayweather would be to fight rough and implement a smothering clinch game. From a former boxer’s perspective, Holm agrees, and at the same time, she feels that McGregor would not be doing much adjustments, coming from his MMA experience.
“I think one of the biggest thing for me going from boxing to MMA that was hard was being close in the clinch, because in boxing I could get comfortable in there,” Holm explained. “You could cover up and throw uppercuts and hooks and call it phone booth fighting and when I first got into MMA, sometimes I’d want to stand in there and throw uppercuts and then all of a sudden they’ve got me in the clinch. Or, I’m trying to box and somebody would go for a takedown.”
“So one of the biggest habits I had to break going into MMA was letting go of that inside boxing style, which I didn’t do all the time but I was comfortable there in the fight and I feel like, going from MMA to boxing, is, I don’t want to say an easier transition, but I just feel like, there aren’t a lot of habits you’d have to break.”
Mayweather vs. McGregor is scheduled for a 12-round fight at 154 pounds on August 26th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It will be broadcasted live via Showtime Boxing.
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