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Cape Town - Just over a week ago at UFC 193 in the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne Australia, Holly Holm defeated Ronda Rousey for the UFC Woman's bantamweight title in what was one of the biggest UFC upsets of all time.
Read: 'I'll be back, vows beaten Rousey
According to the MMALatestNews.com website, one-half of the mastermind behind Holm's destruction of Rousey was her long-standing coach Mike Winklejohn, a man who has been in Holm's corner since day one.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with MMA Latest, Winkeljohn spoke of how Holm's win
was one of his finest achievements in MMA.
'It was the best moment of my coaching career. I have been working with Holly for 17 years, she’s very close with my family, I taught her to throw her first punch so to see her win was a big moment for me.'
An incident that got a lot of attention during the UFC 193 fight week was the altercation between Holm and Rousey at the weigh-ins. After an exchange of words, the incident ended with a short scuffle and the image of Holm's fist in Rousey's face ultimately broadcasted around the world. Winkeljohn was keen to point out that this was an important event in Holm's victory that weekend:
'You know I think you could see some nerves on Ronda’s side, Ronda likes to intimidate her opponents and I think that’s what she was trying to do she was trying to get the upper hand mentally, but Holly won the fight, not just physically but mentally also.'
Ever since Holm's surprise victory there has been no shortage of talk in regards to a rematch between Rousey and Holm. Winkeljohn however, thinks that Rousey would be better off focusing on the weaknesses in her game that Holm exploited, and instead thinks that one of Rousey's greatest rivals Miesha Tate is deserving of the next shot at the title:
'It will be a long road back for Ronda, I think she needs to get a lot of gym time in and really focus on her boxing skills because she’s really missing in that area.
To be honest I don't see a rematch being much different to the first fight, I think Holly is evolving and getting even better every day so I think Holly would be very comfortable in a rematch and Holly would be victorious. In regards to who Holly should fight next, that's Holly's decision, but I think Miesha Tate deserves a chance, I think that makes the most sense.'
Holm's return date to her hometown of Albuquerque has yet to be confirmed due to her embarking on an ongoing, full-scale media tour since her win in Melbourne.
One thing for sure though is that when she does
return she will be straight in the gym, planning the downfall of her next
opponent with Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn at her side.
