October 17, 1981, marked the birth of Holly Holm, a renowned female boxer widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to parents Roger Holm and Tammy Bredy, Holly's early life was marked by a strong desire to take up wrestling, a passion that, however, was thwarted by her parents' reluctance due to the absence of girls' teams at Manzano High School.
Undeterred, Holly turned to kickboxing as an alternative, and her dedication paid off when she began sparring at the age of 17. Her first fight took place when she turned 18, and it was this early start that caught the attention of her trainer, Mike Winkeljohn, who recognized her immense potential.
In 2001, Holly won the national title in the international rules adult women's division in Ringside's amateur kickboxing tournament, a testament to her remarkable skills and a record that stands at an impressive 6-0-2. Her professional boxing debut took place in January 2002, followed by her professional kickboxing debut just five months later on June 1.
Throughout her illustrious career, Holly has accumulated an astonishing 33 wins, 2 losses, and 3 draws, earning her the WBF Female World Light Welterweight and World Welterweight titles. Her achievements did not go unnoticed, as she was named Female Fighter of the Year in 2012 and received an award for Female Fight of the Year. Moreover, Holly holds an impressive 18-world championships across three weight classes.
After retiring from boxing in 2013, Holly transitioned to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA),signing a multi-fight contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on July 10, 2014. Her foray into acting saw her appear in the 2016 film Fight Valley alongside her sister, UFC fighter Miesha Tate.
