Former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm put on a vintage performance in her return to boxing Saturday night to dominate previously unbeaten Yolanda Vega for a clear unanimous decision on the undercard of Paul vs. Chavez Jr. in Anaheim, Calif.
Holm was entering the squared circle for the first time since May 2013, when she defended the IBA and WBF super lightweight belts against Mary McGee in Albuquerque to switch her focus full-time to MMA, and appeared to never miss the beat.
Holm, now 34-2-3 in boxing, was just too fast and precise for Vega, who showed heart but no answer to Holm’s jabs and heavy left straights. Holm was comfortable being the counter striker in the ring, making Vega pay for every attack attempt throughout 10 two-minute rounds.
In the end, Holm was declared the winner with a 100-90 score for all three judges.
“I really loved MMA for a while but then I started feeling this growing pain of wanting to box again,” Holm said after the win. “It’s been fun to get back and just kind of get that boxing going again.”
Holm left the UFC months after losing to now champion Kayla Harrison in April 2024, and has now won a fight for the first time since a UFC main event decision over Irene Aldana in October 2020.
“I wanted to finish early but also I didn’t mind feeling 10 rounds because I do wanna fight for a title and I know the other girls are going to keep getting tougher,” Holm said. “It was a great fight tonight, she’s undefeated fighter so I was glad to be up against somebody that’s tough and put my skills to the test and see how it feels again.”
