Decorated boxing champ Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm captured her first MMA title with another highlight-reel win tonight at Legacy Fighting Championship 30 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Holm stopped Juliana Werner to claim the Legacy FC Women’s Bantamweight Championship.

Werner showed her resolve throughout tonight’s championship fight as she weathered a storm of kicks and punches from Holm, who held a clear lead on the scorecards after 20 minutes. In the fifth round, Holm landed a vicious head kick and she followed up with ground and pound for the TKO victory.

The opening round of the main event title bout was a cautious one and neither woman landed anything damaging until Holm (7-0-0) scored with a body kick 90 seconds in. She followed with another kick to the body and Werner (7-4-0) clinched against the cage. In close, Werner landed short knees, but Holm punched her way free and she continued to target Werner’s midsection with kicks. Werner closed in with punches and the fighters exchanged knees to the body before the bell.

Holm picked up the pace in round two and she landed a pair of one-two combinations over the top. She followed with a head kick, jab combo that caused Werner’s eye to swell up. As the round progressed, Holm landed a series of liver kicks and one hurt Werner, who retreated to the cage. She recovered quickly and appeared to be completely unfazed by a Holm head kick that landed flush on her jaw. Werner finally connected with a combination, but Holm bloodied her nose with a counter one-two and she landed another head kick in the dying seconds.

In round three, Holm continued to mix up her strikes well with side kicks to the body and quick punches over the top. Werner was the aggressor throughout the round and she walked Holm down, but Holm’s footwork was too good for the Brazilian and she sidestepped most of Werner’s strikes. Werner ate another head kick and missed with a looping right hook. Holm dumped her to the mat after catching a kick and she landed two diving right hands and numerous leg kicks before the end of the round.

It was more of the same in round four and Holm got the better of the striking exchanges by keeping Werner guessing. She repeatedly scored with front and side kicks to the body, and put together three- and four-punch combos that backed Werner up. Holm landed a big head kick and took Werner down to the ground. She dropped two hard punches from a standing position and Werner began to bleed more heavily from the nose. The round ended with Holm in Werner’s half-guard.

Holm wobbled Werner with a counter hook as Werner pressed forward early in round five. She looked for a leg-sweep takedown from the clinch, but Werner stayed on her feet. Referee Raul Porrata called for a break and Holm landed yet another massive head kick after the restart. Finally, Werner fell to the mat, but she maintained consciousness as she hit the ground. Holm rushed in and followed up with punches until the fight was ultimately waved off at the 1:50 mark of round five.

In spite of an obvious size disadvantage, Werner, who is a talented and experienced striker in her own right, was arguably Holm’s toughest mixed martial arts opponent to date. Holm had little trouble in victory and she added yet another title – her first in MMA – to her extensive championship collection. Holm remains unbeaten in her MMA career, but a move to the UFC appears to be unlikely for now as Zuffa officials and Holm’s manager have been unable to agree to contractual terms.

Winner: Holly Holm by TKO (Head Kick & Punches) at 1:50 of round five. She improves to 7-0-0 and becomes the first Legacy FC Women’s Bantamweight Champion.