Holly Holm

By FCF Staff

Following Holly Holm’s upset loss to Miesha Tate last weekend, UFC President Dana White has been critical of the now former champ’s manager, Lenny Fresquez.

Holm took on Miesha Tate at UFC 196 on Saturday, and was choked out by the perennial contender in the fifth round. The bout marked the first time Holm had fought since she KO’d Ronda Rousey in November, and it took place, because she and her camp pushed to fight Tate.

Initially the UFC wanted to hold off on Holm’s title defense, and planned to have her fight Rousey in an immediate rematch in July. Holm wanted to stay busy, rather than wait until this summer to fight. After Rousey said she needed more time off  the UFC agreed to Holm’s request.

Recently White appeared on ESPN’s Russillo & Kanell, and while discussing Holm’s defeat, he stated (quote via MMA Fighting.com):

“The sad part about that whole thing is, and listen, he’s an old boxing guy who thinks he’s smart and he isn’t,” White said. “The thing I feel bad about is I feel bad for Holly because I don’t know if Holly really knows what she lost. I think she has so much faith in the people that surround her she feels like, ‘Well, they’ve got me here.’ We had this meeting and Holly wasn’t even in it. Holly, that’s your life! You should be in that meeting. Don’t leave it to these people, this guy. Oh my god.

“Listen, Holly made a lot of money, she accomplished great things, she beat Ronda Rousey, but it could have been so much bigger for her. The sad part is I don’t [think she even knows.]”

In a follow up report from ESPN, Fresquez repeated that it was Holm’s desire to stay active and fight Tate, rather than wait for Rousey.