Conor McGregor's 13-second victory over former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo on Saturday night at UFC 194 presents a good news/bad news scenario for women's bantamweight champion Holly Holm.
On one hand, she knows now that there is no way UFC president Dana White is going to let her fight before her rematch against Ronda Rousey, penciled in for July at UFC 200. On the other hand, she'll see how important she is in the UFC hierarchy when McGregor's next fight is determined.
Holly Holm's Manager Says Miesha Tate Is Better Foe For Holm Than Ronda Rousey
Odds are McGregor won't have to wait eight months for his next fight.
He said on ESPN's SportsCenter following his victory that he would give Aldo a rematch, but also has his eyes on the lightweight championship.
Ronda Rousey Admits Fight With Holly Holm Was Over In 30 Seconds
Although Aldo hadn't been defeated in 10 years coming into his fight with McGregor, he simply didn't have the aura Rousey did before her UFC 193 second-round loss to Holm in November. As McGregor pointed out to ESPN, he has options.
McGregor may be as big as Rousey was, but fans may have second thoughts about buying pay-per-view bouts if his matches are going to last only 13 seconds, as Rousey's matches were in the same category.
But that simply makes Rousey-Holm II the most anticipated fight on the UFC schedule. If Holm thought she might be able to convince White to let her get in another fight to stay sharp, McGregor's quick victory ended all remaining hope in that happening.
But if White doesn't make McGregor wait, Holm can counter by negotiating more money for her rematch with Rousey. After all, the 34-year-old Holm doesn't have as long a window as the 28-year-old Rousey to make big-fight money, and White's decision not to let her fight is preventing an her opportunity at least one big payday as champion before the rematch.
Now, White and Rousey need Holm to create what could be the most lucrative fight in MMA history. And Holm should happily negotiate as such
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