Ronda Rousey: 'Winning at UFC 193 Melbourne will be the highlight of my life'

UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will defend her title against an unlikely opponent in Holly Holm, a former boxer, at UFC 193 in Melbourne on Nov. 15. While Holm does not appear as a legitimate threat to Rousey’s undefeated streak and title belt, “Rowdy” would reportedly still cherish a victory in Australia and consider it the “highlight” of her entire life.

Rousey has fought 12 opponents in her mixed martial arts, or MMA, career, but only one of a dozen has gone beyond the first round. The 28-year-old Rousey said her fight at Etihad Stadium, with a crowd of more than 60,000, would not be just another mark in her win column but would go down as her greatest lifetime accomplishment.

“After I beat Holly in Melbourne it’s going to be the most surreal and overstimulating moment of my entire life and I can’t wait to experience it,” Rousey told Fox Sports.“This is definitely going to be one of those experiences that will have to be savoured and taken in because I don’t think I’m ever going to have a fight like this one.”

Rousey also admitted that she is over competing against a fighter she does not respect, but it appears Holm has gotten the champ’s admiration. Rousey praised Holm on Thursday’s media conference in Melbourne but quickly reminded everyone that she is still the greatest fighter in the world.

"As an athlete, I couldn't have more respect for her,” Rousey told ABC. "She's the most decorated striker we have in all of mixed martial arts.”

UFC will headline Rousey-Holm in its first event in Melbourne at Etihad Stadium. The women’s bantamweight fight card is expected to eclipse the record of George St-Pierre and Jake Shields at UFC 129, which tallied 55,724 in gate attendance.

The UFC 193 main card will also include a bout between straw-weight champion Pole Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Canadian fighter Valerie Letourneau.

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