Decorated boxing champion Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm picked up another impressive stoppage victory in her return to MMA competition tonight at Bellator 91 in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Holm overwhelmed Katie Merrill with kicks and punches to the body to earn a second-round TKO win.

Just as in each of her prior MMA bouts, Holm was once again cautious early in tonight’s fight and she picked her shots from a distance. By the end of the opening round, however, Holm had worn Merrill down with liver kicks and she continued to batter her smaller opponent until the fight was waved off.

Holm (3-0-0) circled on the outside in round one as Merrill (1-1-0) pressed the action with kicks. Merrill clinched, but Holm broke free and the fighters traded body kicks. Holm’s kicks had a much greater impact and she avoided Merrill’s attempts to take the fight to the mat. In the final two minutes of the round, Holm scored with quick punching combinations and she mixed up her strikes well. Merrill caught a kick and she was able to secure a takedown just before the bell.

Holm remained aggressive with combinations in round two and she kept Merrill guessing by switching between punches and kicks to the body. A three-punch flurry from Holm forced Merrill to shoot in for a takedown. Holm stuffed it, but Merrill was able to take her down after catching a kick. Holm used the cage to work back to her feet and she landed a right hook to the body that hurt Merrill.

Sensing that her opponent was in trouble, Holm landed more punches as Merrill fell to the mat and referee Raul Porrata intervened for the stoppage – perhaps prematurely – at the 3:02 mark of round two.

With tonight’s victory, Holm kept her unblemished record intact in her first MMA bout since September 2011. All three of the Albuquerque native’s victories have come via a form of knockout and kicks have played a key part in each of her wins to date.

Winner: Holly Holm by TKO (Punches) at 3:02 of round two. She improves to 3-0-0.

(Photo Credit: Life.com)