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MMA

04th Feb 2016

Holly Holm is being tipped to beat Ronda Rousey even worse in their rematch

Tom Victor

Holly Holm stunned the MMA world when she beat Ronda Rousey at UFC 193.

Many have backed ‘Rowdy’ to come back stronger when the pair next meet, but a couple of big names from the boxing world aren’t giving the star a chance.

Undefeated former champ Laila Ali admitted to being surprised by the manner in which Holm recorded the upset, but believes things will be even more comprehensive next time around.

“Holly Holm was just getting warmed up,” Ali told Chael Sonnen. “I think that if she fought her again, then the same thing and worse will happen.”

Laila Ali v Gwendolyn O'Neil

Meanwhile Freddie Roach, the renowned boxing trainer who has also worked with UFC stars BJ Penn and Georges St-Pierre, has warned Rousey to “stay away from” Holm.

“She can’t just take her down because [Holm] not only knows kickboxing, she knows the defense to not be taken down,” Roach is quoted as saying in the Los Angeles Times.

“[Holm] proved it last fight. She only got taken down once, and she got out of that real quickly. She’s a smart girl.”

It had been suggested that Rousey would get her rematch with Holm at UFC 200, but it now seems as though she won’t be ready to return that soon.