Holly Holm Wants To 'Shock The World Twice' By Beating Amanda Nunes

Holly Holm comes into her bantamweight title fight this weekend against Amanda Nunes at UFC 239 as the large betting underdog but despite the odds stacked against her, the former champion is still confident she is capable of beating any opponent in the division.

The 37-year-old sensationally knocked out the previously undefeated Ronda Rousey with a clean head kick to capture the bantamweight title at UFC 193 in November 2015. Since that fight, however, Holm has gone 2-4 inside the Octagon which is why the bookmakers have her at long odds of winning against Nunes.

Holm spoke to ESPN.com in the lead up to her title fight against the Brazilian and pointed out that despite her struggles since that fight against Rousey, all her losses have been closely fought contests.

“There was no fight [among] any of my fights since the belt that I just literally got my ass handed to me,” Holm said. “For me, it’s like I’ve come short, I’ve come short, I’ve come short. But I don’t feel like I can’t compete with these girls anymore, that’s the difference. … I know I’m still fully capable of beating any girl in this division.”

Since becoming the bantamweight champion, Holm has lost against Miesha Tate, Valentina Shevchenko, Germaine de Randamie and Cris Cyborg. All four fights were close contests and she was only finished by Tate in a fight Holm dominated right up until the last round when she got caught in a submission.

Holm is under no illusion of the task she faces on Saturday night against the dual-division champion in Nunes but is confident she can create another upset just like she did in Melbourne, Australia at UFC 193.

“I want to shock the world twice,” Holm said. “I’m going in with full belief I’m beating Nunes. And then I want to defend it and I want to keep winning. I want to retire on top, not on bottom, I don’t want to retire because I feel like I have nothing left. I want to retire because I feel like I did what I needed to do and that I’m content with it.”

Holm knows that time is not on her side when it comes to winning another belt and admitted this may be the last time she gets to be in a title fight, considering her age.

“That’s why this fight has so much on it,” Holm said. “I know what’s on the plate. And being the fact that I’m 37, they wouldn’t be saying some of the things they would be saying if I was 27. Being 37, they’re gonna say if I lose, ‘Oh you should retire.’ If I win, ‘Oh my gosh, we knew you could do it again.’ It’s one or the other.”