Holly Holm stuns Ronda Rousey with knockout, upset victory in UFC title fight

Holly Holm knocks Rhonda Rousey out with a kick to the head

(Image credit: Paul Crock/AFP/Getty Images)

last updated 16 November 2015

On Sunday in Australia, in front of a UFC-record 56,214 spectators at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium, boxer Holly Holm knocked out Ronda Rousey to take the UFC bantamweight title. Holm, 34, and Rousey had both been undefeated, but Rousey, a 28-year-old former judo Olympian with 12 straight UFC wins, had been favored to prevail in the fight. Instead, about a minute into the second round, Holm landed a kick to Rousey's head, dropping her to the floor, then jumped on her and delivered several blows to the head before the referees stepped in. Rousey was taken to the hospital, but preliminary tests ruled out a concussion, according to her trainer, Mick Dolce. Rousey posted her own statement on Instagram:

A photo posted by rondarousey (@rondarousey) on Nov 15, 2015 at 5:57pm PST

Rousey was transported to the hospital "because she got knocked out," said UFC chief Dana White. "She's completely bummed out and depressed." He added that a rematch was likely. "Ronda has lost before, she lost at the Olympic games," Dolce pointed out. "That was a great test for her, and look at how she came back, she came back a multi-time world champion." Holm said that her upset victory was "one of those moments that you live for."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.

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