Wow!
Round 1
Herb Dean is the referee for tonight’s 135-pound championship main event, with judges Mark Collette, Barry Foley and Charlie Keech scoring at cageside. Holm paces side to side in her corner during introductions; Rousey bounces in place, scowling at her challenger across the cage. The champ maintains her glare through final instructions and refuses a touch of gloves when Holm offers up her hands. Rousey closes the distance quickly, but Holm circles away. Holm angles off with a lovely left hand that turns Rousey’s head. A straight left from Holm connects as Rousey continues to chase her around the cage. Holm is slipping most of Rousey’s punches until about 90 seconds in, when “Rowdy” tags her with a right hand over the top. Rousey gets an underhook and rushes Holm against the fence, but Holm slips out and exits with a clean left hand. Rousey is bleeding from the nose as Holm continues to tag her with counters. Another left hand connects for Holm, but the dazed Rousey manages to clinch up and take her down with head-and-arm control. Rousey throws up an armbar, but Holm pulls the arm free and escapes to her feet, forcing Rousey to do the same. Holm stomps on Rousey’s lead leg with an oblique kick, then another. Rousey wants the clinch again, now trying uppercuts in the tie-up, but Holm slips out and circles away. Ninety seconds remain as Rousey walks right into a big left hand. Holm connects on another punch but loses her mouthguard and the action is paused to replace it. Holm wraps up Rousey and trips her to the ground with 45 seconds left, but she immediately allows the champ to stand. Rousey is chasing after Holm with wild punches, swinging and missing as Holm sprints away. The horn sounds and Rousey connects with a late left hand which draws a slight jeer from the crowd.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Holm
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Holm
Jeff Sherwood scores the round 10-9 Holm
Round 2
Holm continues to tee off with left hands as Rousey tries desperately to close the distance. A side kick jacks Rousey’s jaw before Holm ducks completely under a punch which leaves the champ falling to the ground. Rousey jumps back up and walks into another hard, sraight left from Holm. The next left takes out Rousey’s legs, sends her stumbling to the canvas as she turns her back to the challenger. As she gets back to her feet, Holm uncorks a perfect left high kick. Rousey takes it on the jaw and crashes sideways to the canvas, and Holm makes sure she’s out cold with a few punches before referee Herb Dean can intervene. She’s done it. Holm has done it, and it looks as though even she can hardly believe it. Holly Holm is the new UFC women’s bantamweight champion.