Watch: Ronda Rousey knocked out in stunning loss

NZ Herald

15 Nov, 2015 06:11 AM2 mins to read

Ronda Rousey recieves medical attention after her knockout by Holly Holm in Melbourne. Photo / Getty

Holly Holm has delivered on her promise to shock the world, knocking out Ronda Rousey in their UFC world bantamweight title fight at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium.

The 34-year-old Holm, a multiple boxing world champion, delivered a head kick 59 seconds into the second round of Sunday's bout to send Rousey crashing to the canvas.

It appeared Rousey was close to unconscious as she hit the deck and Holm followed up with several strikes before the referee stopped the fight.

Holm appeared to be in shock at what she had just achieved.

"I don't know ... I am trying to take it in ... but it's crazy, isn't it?" Holm said.

"How could I not do this? I had the best coaching from stand-up, to grappling, to wrestling. This team right here is priceless."

Holm, who had achieved eight of her previous MMA victories by knockout, but had gone the distance in her two UFC fights, said head kicks to Rousey were the plan.

"I didn't want to kick her in the body and have her trap my leg ... I went high and got it," Holm said.

Ronda Rousey fights against Holly Holm. Photo / Getty

The win propelled Holm's MMA record to 10-0 and dropped Rousey's to 12-1 as UFC commentator Joe Rogan called it the biggest upset in the sport.

Rousey appeared out of sorts from the beginning, refusing to touch gloves to start the fight - something she had only done once before, against arch-rival Miesha Tate - Rousey then proceeded to go all-out in attack, chasing Holm all over the octagon in the first round, to her detriment.

While Holm waited for her chance, fighting off the back foot to land strikes as Rousey rushed her, Rousey wore more than a few, including a big elbow and a hard straight left in the opener.

Rousey couldn't even sink her trademark armbar in when she went for it two minutes into the fight.