Holly Holm vs Marion Reneau Official For UFC Fight Night 71Multi-time boxing world champion Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm looks for her second UFC victory when she steps back into the Octagon on July 15th at UFC Fight Night 71: “Mir vs Duffee” in San Diego, California. Holm is set to battle rising star Marion “The Belizean Bruiser” Reneau.

UFC officials confirmed the bantamweight bout today following a report on UFC Tonight last week. Holm made a successful UFC debut in February when she edged out Raquel “Rocky” Pennington at UFC 184. Reneau most recently upset Jéssica “Bate Estaca” Andrade at UFC Fight Night 61.

Holm (8-0-0) is one of the most decorated female strikers in MMA today. The former pound-for-pound boxing queen knocked out six of her first seven MMA opponents and captured the Legacy FC Women’s Bantamweight Championship in April 2014 before signing with the UFC. In her long-awaited debut, Holm was tentative and engaged in a lacklustre bout with Pennington, who bloodied Holm with punches and clearly took the final round. However, Holm’s superior boxing in the first ten minutes was just enough to propel her to a narrow Split Decision victory.

Reneau (6-1-0) has become a breakout star in the UFC since debuting as an underdog against Alexis “Sneaky Zebra” Dufresne at UFC 182 in January. Reneau destroyed Dufresne in one of the most lopsided female fights in recent years and she made a quick return to the cage to face Andrade seven weeks later. Once again embracing the role of underdog, Reneau halted Andrade’s three-fight winning streak with an impressive triangle choke finish in just under two minutes. She now looks for another big upset victory by defeating Holm in July.

UFC Fight Night 71: “Mir vs Duffee” takes place on July 15th at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California. The event is headlined by a heavyweight bout between Frank Mir and Todd Duffee, and also features a second women’s bantamweight bout between Sarah “Cheesecake” Moras and the aforementioned Jéssica “Bate Estaca” Andrade.

 

 

(Photo Credit: UFC)

  1. Very tough, exciting matchup. I think Holm will have to use all of her experience and skill to get through this fight, and it still may not be enough. It’s not clear yet just how good Marion Reneau is — but her potential is tremendous, despite her age. She hasn’t been in any wars yet, and she has the best “MMA physique” of any woman fighter. Winner of this fight is immediately top-5, and likely the next title contender after Correia and Eye.