Boxing’s top female fighter, Holly “Hottie” Holm, will return to mixed martial arts competition on September 9th under the Fresquez Productions banner. The standout striker, who won her MMA debut in March, will face Strikeforce veteran Jan “Cuddles” Finney in a main event matchup announced today.
Holm, who remains active as a boxer, will compete in front of her hometown Albuquerque, New Mexico fans once again in her sophomore effort in MMA. She will face Finney at the Route 66 Casino, which also housed Holm’s two most recent boxing matches. Finney will look to end a two-fight losing skid.
Holm (1-0-0 MMA; 30-1-3 Boxing) is widely regarded as the top pound-for-pound female in boxing today and her success in the boxing ring carried over into her March 4th MMA debut. Facing a credible test in Christina “Machine Gun” Domke, Holm was able to keep the fight on the feet for much of its duration and wore Domke down with crisp strikes before finishing her with leg kicks in the later stages of round two. She returned to boxing on June 10th and defeated Victoria Cisneros.
Finney (8-9-0) won five of six fights from 2008 until mid-2010 when she ran into Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight Champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos. In one of the most lopsided women’s bouts in recent years, Finney endured a brutal beating through one and a half rounds before a knee to the body ended her night and her four-fight winning streak. She made one more appearance for Strikeforce in November, but was cut after a stoppage loss to future title challenger Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche.
While both fighters prefer to stand and trade, Holm’s technical striking may give her an edge, as Finney is better known as a brawler with one-punch power. Holm has not taken on easy opponents for her new venture in MMA, however, and Finney will be a considerable step up in competition from her debut.
The bout between Holm and Finney will headline the second mixed martial arts event from Fresquez Productions, dubbed “Clash In The Cage,” which is set for September 9th at the Route 66 Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
(Photo Credit: Life.com)
Wow, interesting match.
Surprised they’re letting this fight happen, considering the gap in MMA experience.
Jan Finney will take this, if she fights smart!
Finney will put on a clinic, All-hype Holly wont stay up for long, She will fall back to earth with that sounded defeat.
Full faith in Holly! You will all be eating your words… Finney doesnt have jack on Holly. You all have a lot to say about Hollys hype … Id like to see any one hang with holly for 5 min and see how much shit you have to talk. She deserves at least the respect. Im sure Jan will put on a good fight … no disrespect. But holly will own this fight.