Holly Holm is considered among the best female boxers of all time and she developed a vicious head kick in MMA, one that crowned her as UFC women’s bantamweight champion against Ronda Rousey. Holm took a different direction at UFC Fight Night on Saturday by showing the evolution of her grappling against Yana Santos in a decisive decision victory.
Holm leaned heavily on her wrestling and top control in a dominant performance against Santos (formerly Kunitskya) in Saturday’s co-main event. Holm grounded Santos in the late moments of Round 1 and returned to the well in the second and third frames. Holm appeared to have the fight wrapped by trapping Santos in a crucifix and unloading with strikes in the second round, but Santos wiggled free just in the nick of time.
Holm threatened a rear-naked choke in Round 3, but her first career submission ultimately eluded her. Nevertheless, Holm swept Santos on the scorecards and even earned a 30-26 on one judge’s tally…
