After The Crossfire – Holm shocks the world by defeating “unbeatable” Rousey at UFC 193

Holly Holm shocked the world at the biggest card in UFC history.

Holm defeated Ronda Rousey using a superb gameplan of strikes and kicks in less than three rounds at UFC 193 in Melbourne, Australia.

Rousey tried to pressure Holm, and almost had her in dangerous ground positions. But Holm survived and battered Rousey with strikes before finally knocking her down with a headkick.

Referee Herb Dean was forced to call the bout 59 seconds into the second round.

In the post-fight press conference, Holm said a rematch was “common sense.” UFC president Dana White also said a rematch sounded good as it’s probably what people want to see.

Welcome back to The Crossfire.

Holm and Kyle Noke earned performances-of-the-night. Rousey and Holm earned Fight-of-the-Night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus, with Holm earning $100,000.

The attendance was 56,214 eclipsing Toronto’s UFC 129.

Check out our UFC 193 live blog.

MMA Crossfire Expert Cassie Wiseman checks in with her thoughts.

UFC EARLY FIGHT PASS PRELIMS 

BEN NGUYEN VS RYAN BENOIT 

WINNER: BEN NGYUEN VIA SUBMISSION R1 2:35

WISEMAN PREDICTION: RYAN BENOIT VIA TKO

Wiseman: Would love to say that it was close, but Nguyen picked the right night for his best fight ever. He ducked under early strikes by Benoit and countered perfectly to rock Benoit. From there, he got back control and a submission win. Amazing technical showing.

JAMES  MOONTASRI VS ANTON ZAFIR

WINNER: JAMES MOONTASRI VIA TKO R1 4:36 

WISEMAN PREDICTION: JAMES MOONTASRI VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION

Wiseman: Would love to say that it was close, but Nguyen picked the right night for his best fight ever. He ducked under early strikes by Benoit and countered perfectly to rock Benoit. From there, he got back control and a submission win. Amazing technical showing.

RICHARD WALSH VS STEVEN KENNEDY

WINNER: RICHARD WALSH VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27,30-27, 29-28)

WISEMAN PREDICTION: RICHARD WALSH VIA TKO

Wiseman: Well, this fight was annoying. Walsh had Kennedy hurt early in the first round, his leg destroyed. However, Walsh let Kennedy get him to the mat, then played Kennedy’s game in grappling. All of this just put him in danger while he dominated the standup. Strange. A decision win, just strange to put yourself in the other persons strength when it clearly isn’t yours.

DANIEL KELLY VS STEVE MONTGOMERY

WINNER: DANIEL KELLY VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

WISEMAN PREDICTION: DANIEL KELLY VIA SUBMISSION

Wiseman: The judo gave Montgomery a difficult time. While striking, Montgomery gave him problems, but in the striking count it was close. Between the strikes and the Judo Kelly dominated with his ground game. Great showing by both.

TSN 3 PRELIMS 

RICHIE VACULIK VS DANNY MARTINEZ 

WINNER: DANNY MARTINEZ VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

WISEMAN PREDICTION: RICHIE VACULIK VIA SUBMISSION

Wiseman: The key to this fight was the wrestling of Martinez. From beginning to end Martinez threw leather, then used the takedown  at will that quickly flattened that minute of confidence. Martinez just too good with his takedowns, and Vaculik unable to stuff any thing. That is a lesson learned for Vaculik. Great showing by Martinez.

ANTHONY PEROSH VS GIAN VILLANTE

WINNER: GIAN VILLANTE VIA TKO R1 2:56

WISEMAN PREDICTION: ANTHONY PEROSH VIA SUBMISSION

Wiseman: Villante learned from his mistakes with Lawler. He looked incredible tonight. He moved slow and confident in cutting off the octagon, timed his counters, great kicks, and just softened up Perosh strike after strike. Perosh really just didn’t have space or anything going for him tonight and unable to get things to the mat where he needed to take thins. Excellent showing by Villante tonight for the TKO finish early in the first.

KYLE NOKE VS PETER SOBOTTA 

WINNER: KYLE NOKE VIA TKO

WISEMAN PREDICTION: KYLE NOKE VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION

Wiseman: Well, Noke wasn’t messing around. Right from the beginning of the round he was throwing a load of kicks. Really keeping Sobotta at a distance and using power. That lasted for a little over a minute before a body shot had Sobotta screaming in pain with a crazed Noke all over him. The ref stepped in and Noke got a TKO finish. What a sound from the bodyshot, but what a scream from Sobotta. Sobotta is a tough dude, so that goes to show the power of Noke in his kicks. Wow!

JAKE MATTHEWS VS AKBARH ARREOLA

WINNER: JAKE MATTHEWS VIA TKO (DOCTORS STOPPAGE) END OF R2

WISEMAN PREDICTION: AKBARH ARREOLA VIA SUBMISSION

Wiseman:  While Arreola took the first round, Matthews killed Arreola in the second round. Arreola’s face was a mess. Do I think it should have been stopped? Well, because in other locations they let so much fly, I was surprised that they stopped it when they did. Probably for the best, but what was impressive was Matthews taking on Arreola. The crafty skills and experience of Arreola, huge win for Matthews. Very impressive!

MAIN CARD 

#14 STEFAN STRUVE VS JARED ROSHOLT

WINNER: JARED ROSHOLT VIA  UNANIMOUS DECISION (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

WISEMAN PREDICTION: JARED ROSHOLT VIA TKO

Wiseman:  We’ll I figured this fight was going to be a snorefest and it was. Struve keeps commenting that he is getting better, putting on size, etc. yet the guy can’t figure out his reach. Rosholt scored takedowns easy and just outpointed him. No one did anything. If you watch the fight or have recorded the main card, skip this fight.

#10 URIAH HALL VS #14 ROBERT WHITTAKER 

WINNER: ROBERT WHITTAKER VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

WISEMAN PREDICTION: URIAH HALL VIA TKO

Wiseman: Whittaker was aggressive and that was really working for him. Hall couldn’t get his distance sorted and with every left hook he threw, he over turned and ended up with zero defence and his back towards Whittaker. Not the performance I expected from Hall, but it was his third fight in 38 days. Great display of gameplanning and cardio by Whittaker for the decision win.

#8 MARK HUNT VS #11 ANTONIO SILVA 

WINNER: MARK HUNT VIA TKO R1 3:41

WISEMAN DECISION: MARK HUNT VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION

Wiseman: Luckily it wasn’t a snorefest, but Hunt actually came to fight. The main card was at a loss, but at least this fight didn’t add to the snoring. Hunt came in better shape this time and you could see that he meant business right from the beginning. Hunt was using kicks for distance and able to connect with a night closer right in the first round.

(C) JOANNA JEDRZEJCZYK VS #9 VALERIE LETOURNEAU 

WINNER: JOANNA JEDRZEJCZYK VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (49-46, 49-46, 50-45)

WISEMAN PREDICTION: JOANNE JEDRZEJCZYK VIA TKO

Wiseman: It was technical. These ladies put on a standup Muay Thai/kickboxing match. Nothing held back, but the speed of JJ was too much. Val got a takedown in the first round, but didn’t go for it at any other point. JJ just continued to use her cardio, striking, and speed to put on a show.

MAIN EVENT

(C) RONDA ROUSEY  VS HOLLY HOLM 

WINNER: HOLLY HOM VIA TKO R2 0:59

WISEMAN PREDICTION: RONDA ROUSEY VIA SUBMISSION

Wiseman:  If you thought that Rousey was unbeatable, watch UFC 193. Anyone can be beaten. Anyone. Tonight Holm put on a clinic against one of the best in the world. From the beginning of the fight to the end in the second round, Holm just used her movement to put everything together for an incredible show of skill. The NEW world champion Holly Holm.

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