The woman who shocked the ultimate fighting world, American Holly Holm, says she wants to give fallen champion Ronda Rousey a re-match for the title she took from her in what is being described as the "greatest upset in UFC history" at Etihad Stadium.
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Rousey was immediately transported to hospital after being knocked out by Holm early in the second round, and the sport's transcendent star was reportedly "bummed out and depressed" after suffering the first loss of her career in front of 56,000 in Melbourne on Sunday.
With the surprise result main event providing a dramatic conclusion, the UFC trumpeted UFC193 as a "massive success", with the Rousey-Holm marquee breaking attendance and gate takings records.
The event generated almost $9 million from the gate alone, so it was little wonder UFC was quick to announce that another event had been scheduled for Australia — in Brisbane on March 20, 2016.
Holm, a 16-1 outsider, created one of the sport's iconic moments when she landed a brutal left foot kick that wiped out Rousey 59 seconds into the second round, lifting her to the World Bantamweight Championship.
Rousey was unable to front the media after being knocked out and suffering a split lip that required stitches, leaving questions about her aggressive approach to the fight to go unanswered.
Holm, known as The Preacher's Daughter, becomes the first fighter ever to have won both a world boxing and UFC title.
In the media conference after the fights, UFC promoters said that a Holm-Rousey rematch "made sense", and Holm agreed.
"I have been on the losing side of a fight and wanted to avenge my loss," the 34-year-old said.
"So for a champion like Ronda, who has gone out of her way to do great things, absolutely, she deserves a rematch.
"I don't look at this fight and think I've made it. I think I've still got some things to do."
Holm could scarcely believe what she had done, looking down at a bloodied Rousey spread on the mat as the stunned Melbourne crowd went crazy for the thrilling finish.
Rousey, billed as the undisputed queen of mixed martial arts, was in trouble from the bell, rocked by precision left-hand counter-punches from Holm.
In a match that looked like no other in her career, Rousey left herself open by chasing Holm around the ring, and after losing the first round — the first time she has ever lost a round — she went to her corner exhausted.
Holm, meanwhile, seemed focussed and never looked intimidated in producing what some experts called "the perfect fight".
However she admitted afterwards that the unshakeable confidence she seemed to display in the Octagon was not always present in the build-up to the fight.
"There were days I got to the gym, didn't perform well, sat in my car, cried and thought 'You know what, if I perform like that, that's not going to get me the win'," Holm said.
"So I've got to come back tonight and perfect those things.
"So there were moments in your mind when you doubt yourself. There were mental moments up and down through your training camp that you have to overcome."
Holm said the life-changing experience had only added to her fondness for Australia.
"I love it here, it's awesome," she said. "I feel like this could be a second home."
