Holly Holm Leaves UFC and Returns to Boxing
Holly Holm requested her release from her promotion after losing to Kayla Harrison in April 2024. The request was granted in January 2025, allowing Holm to explore opportunities outside the cage. ESPN reported that she chose to return to boxing and signed with Most Valuable Promotions in May 2025.
Holm returned to the ring on June 28, 2025, and beat previously undefeated Yolanda Vega by unanimous decision in a 10-round bout. It was Holm’s first boxing appearance in more than 12 years.
She later challenged WBA lightweight champion Stephanie Han. Their first bout, on January 3, 2026, was stopped in the seventh round after an accidental head clash opened a cut on Han; Han won a technical decision. The WBA’s round-by-round score analysis lists the judges’ totals as 69–64, 68–65 and 68–65 for Han.
Han also won their May 30, 2026 rematch by majority decision, retaining her title. The official scores were 96–94 twice and 95–95, according to Most Valuable Promotions’ event report.
Sources
- ESPN on Holm’s release and boxing return
- Holm vs. Yolanda Vega result
- WBA analysis of Han–Holm I scorecards
- Official Han–Holm II results
