MMA Junkie reports that women’s MMA fighter Holly Holm turned down the UFC offer to fight for the company revealing she may have a more lucrative offer if she accepted a boxing match this September.
Holm’s coach Mike Winkeljohn stated that the UFC offered Holm $15,000 to show and $15,000 to win (via MMA Fighting) in hopes of landing the Legacy FC bantamweight. But after a meeting between Dana White and Holm’s representatives, the UFC passed. According to Junkie, she could earn $250,000 if she agrees to step back into the boxing ring. The money is being offered by a European boxing promoter in hopes of setting up a matchup with Cecelia Braekhus. Holm carries a boxing record of 33 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws. Her last match was in May 2013.
Passing on Holm is somewhat of a surprise although the asking price may have been too high for the UFC. Yet, Holm has the looks and possibly the talent to set up a marketable matchup with Ronda Rousey for Rousey’s bantamweight title. But, Holms’ agent indicated that if she earned a UFC title shot, “her compensation would get a significant bump.”
Payout Perspective:
Should the UFC have passed on Holm? She is very impressive in the Octagon albeit against inferior opponents. It would be hard to compare how she would do against UFC caliber talent but it’s hard to fathom a substantial dropoff. She does have the looks and fighting style to be a marketable commodity in the UFC. But, the question is was the asking price too much. Rousey started at $45,000/$45,000 at UFC 157. Notably, it was reported that the fighters for the new UFC’s women straw weight division coming later this year will make at least $32,000 (it’s not clear if this includes their appearance on TUF and if this will be their show money going forward) even before a fight. So, $15K/$15K, if true, would seem to be a low-ball offer considering the following Holm already has and the potential for her in the UFC.
While she may make $250,000 in a boxing match, this may be seen as just posturing in the media. Certainly, one can’t deny that she may make this much but I do not foresee women’s boxing a big commodity here in the U.S. unless she wants to recommit to boxing. But with the news of her having a broken arm and needing surgery, this makes her situation something to revisit when she returns.
The UFC needs marketable opponents for Rousey and this is why rumors of Gina Carano returning have surfaced. A healthy Holm would make the most sense and be a good draw on PPV. We will see if she ever gets a chance in the Octagon.
BrainSmasher says
Not sure where everyone gets she has the looks. Not ugly but not good looking either. Not even on Rouseys level. Let alone Tate or the many hotties in the new 115 division like Van Zant and Rose. As for her contract. She is just padding her record boxing style. Why should that warrant a huge contract? Maybe someone should tell her this isn’t boxing. You don’t beat 30 cans and get big money to get slaughtered by a big name. I think this offer is fair for someone new to the UFC. IF she wants more to fight Ronda then she needs to beat 2-3 other girls and go into that fight with a reason to get more money. Demanding more money to fight the champ is stupid when every girl under contract would jump at the chance for a title shot.
Like the UFC already said. If she would win the title fight she would get a new contract. What this boils down to is Holm trying to cash in in the event she is a fraud. Now why should a fraud get rich by conning people?
Saldathief says
Fraud or not 250 k for boxing one fight or maybe 250 k for a ufc carrerr, we all know where the money is
Sampson Simpson says
Gina Carano??? AHAHAHAHAHA the UFC is a big, fat joke.
AHAHAHAHAHA… Gina Carano.
BrainSmasher says
That’s if you believe they will pay for 250K. I don’t think there is any chance In hell of that happening. There is a reason we only hear about it when her Neg failed with the UFC. Why not before where the UFC wasn’t talking to her? Why not when she was active? She left boxing for a reason. There was no money for woman. Paying her now after she has been gone and now with broken arm. Isnt going to help hype the girl shes fighting.
Also if she beats Ruosey she would make much more than 250K. Rousey is making that every single fight and then some while in the UFC. Not for just a 1 time thing. Her future is the UFC. Is she wasn’t to lose that playing games. That’s her mistake.
Sampson Simpson says
Rousey is a joke. Carano is a joke.
UFC = doomed
Saldathief says
If she beats Rousey no one will care, she will make nothing and be a nobody. Who are you kidding. WMMA is a novelty that maybe has one more big fight in it left thats it.