Combat sports legend Holly Holm (12-4-0) was looking forward to fighting unbeaten Aspen Ladd (7-0-0) at UFC 235 in Las Vegas on March 2. That was until “The Preacher’s Daughter” was suddenly pulled from the card due to some contractual issues with the UFC that need to be sorted out.
“That fight’s not gonna happen,” UFC president DanaWhite announced at the card’s January 31 press conference at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. “We’re working on another fight for both of them,” he added.
Holm’s agent, Lenny Fresquez, told ESPN the fight cancellation is related to ongoing negotiations between Holm and the UFC to extend her current deal.
Holm shocked the MMA world when she upset Ronda Rousey back in 2015, but has since lost four of his next six fights. Also a former boxing champion, Holm was looking forward to climbing back on top the ranks and was deep in her preparation for Ladd when news broke. At age 37, time isn’t necessarily on Holm’s side, which is why it’s understandable how devastated she was after hearing about her fight’s cancellation.
Holm posted an Instagram story last Thursday:
“My heart and my mind, my soul, everything was focused for March 2,” she wrote. “I’m really bummed out about it. I didn’t have any idea this was going to be canceled and I don’t really know what’s going to happen — if [there’s going to be a fight] on March 2 — I really don’t think it is. But I’m going to keep training and I’m going to show you guys my hard work is going to pay off, whatever the next fight might be.”
A true legend in women’s and combat sports in general, Holm may possibly find herself challenging Amanda Nunes for her women’s 135 belt.
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