By Ronda Rousey’s defeat to Holly Holm in 2015 was a pivotal moment in her UFC career, as she discovered the hard truth of Mike Tyson’s words: plans can fall apart with a single punch. At the height of her fame, comparable to Conor McGregor, Rousey was seen as an unstoppable force, even capable of taking on Floyd Mayweather in MMA, according to UFC CEO Dana White and commentator Joe Rogan.
However, the knockout loss to Holm shattered her invincible image. In her autobiography “Our Fight,” Rousey reflects on the fight, revealing that her game plan was never put into action due to an early punch from Holm that left her disoriented and fighting on instinct. Her strategy was to keep Holm off-balance and use her judo skills against the cage for takedowns, but the concussion from the initial punch impaired her vision and ability to think clearly.
Rousey contrasts this with her fight against Miesha Tate, where she could execute her plan and secure a win with her signature armbar. She admits that her coaches’ advice during fights was often unheard, as she was focused on her own tactics, a mindset instilled by her mother who sent her to judo tournaments without a coach. Despite the setback against Holm, Rousey’s approach to fighting remained unchanged, driven by her own decisions in the heat of the moment.
