Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm kept her perfect mixed martial arts record intact with a clear-cut Unanimous Decision victory tonight at UFC Fight Night 71: “Mir vs Duffee” in San Diego, California. Holm outpointed rising star Marion “The Belizean Bruiser” Reneau on the main card.

Throughout tonight’s featured matchup, Holm shut down Reneau’s offence and easily won the striking battles with quick combinations of punches and body kicks. In other action tonight, Jéssica “Bate Estaca” Andrade picked up a crucial Unanimous Decision win over Sarah “Cheesecake” Moras.

Holm (9-0-0) countered an early head kick from Reneau (6-2-0) by landing punch-kick combos and side kicks to the body that forced Reneau to backpedal. Reneau struggled to find her range and came up well short with lunging punches that were met by more body and head kicks from Holm. In round two, Holm continued to score with punches and numerous kicks to the head and body of Reneau, who was unable to get anything going. She tried to jump guard late in the round, but Holm slammed her down.

Reneau was slightly more aggressive in the final round and she landed early kicks, but Holm fired back with an uppercut and more punch-kick combinations. She kept Reneau at bay with side kicks until Reneau jumped guard again. She was able to drag Holm down to the mat and briefly threatened with a triangle choke, but Holm escaped and she hurt Reneau with a flurry and a body kick before the bell.

All three judges scored the fight for Holm, who was critical of her performance following her victory. While she is not yet ready to challenge the division’s elite, Holm is steadily improving and poses a solid test for most female fighters at 135 pounds.

Winner: Holly Holm by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. She improves to 9-0-0.

Earlier on the card, Andrade (13-4-0) battered Moras (4-2-0) with ground and pound for three rounds en route to a commanding victory on the scorecards. Andrade stuffed Moras’s early takedowns, but Moras pulled guard and attacked with armbars and elbow strikes from the bottom. She landed upkicks when Andrade stood, but Andrade took control of the round with punches and elbows from top position and she knocked Moras down with a knee to the body before the bell.

Andrade took Moras down in round two and she landed elbows and hammerfists from half-guard and side control. She continued to punish Moras with elbows and attempted a guillotine choke late in the round. Moras tried for a guillotine of her own in the final round, but Andrade countered with a takedown and scored with more ground and pound. Both women went for guillotines in the ensuing minutes and Moras rallied before the bell with a standing rear-naked choke.

Andrade left no doubt in the judges’ minds and all three sided with the talented Brazilian, who got back on track after suffering an upset loss to Reneau in February. She has won four of her past five fights inside the Octagon.

Winner: Jéssica Andrade by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. She improves to 13-4-0.

(Photo Credit: UFC)