Ronda Rousey (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

Although most people weren’t expecting to see Holly Holm fight Ronda Rousey next, the latter believes the vaunted striker will be her toughest test yet.

Recently the UFC announced that Rousey-Holm will headline the promotion’s January 2nd, UFC 195 event, which will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Due to the fact Holm is multiple time, boxing champion, and has gone 9-0 to date in MMA, the bantamweight has long been considered a potential opponent for Rousey. But, since she’s gone the distance in both of her UFC bouts thus far, and is ranked #9, the consensus was that Holm would need to win at least one more bout before receiving a title shot.

The UFC, however, has tapped the talented pugilist for a championship bout now, and in the official announcement, here’s what Rousey had to say about Holm.

“She’s definitely my biggest challenge to date, so I’m super excited about it.”

“I prepare for a five-round war every time I get in there,” she said. “No one’s easy until after you beat them, and with Holly Holm, she’s the type that is ready to go 12 boxing rounds. She’s not the average chick that I fight. She’s the best striker I’ve ever fought, and striking is something I learned much later in my career. So I don’t ever expect fights to be easy and fast. No one knows exactly how the fights are going to go, and that’s why everybody buys them.”

Holm is coming off a decision win over Marlon Reneau in July, and Rousey quickly defended the title on August 1st, by stopping Bethe Correia in 34 seconds.