They said Holly Holm didn't deserve a title shot at Ronda Rousey. They said she didn't even belong in the cage. They said Rousey was unbeatable.
And yet, much like Mike Tyson met his comeuppance at the hands of Buster Douglas in a stadium halfway around the world a generation ago, Holm, the former world boxing champion, put in a flawless performance against the biggest star in mixed martial arts in front of a potential record crowd in Melbourne, Australia.
Holm (10-0) absolutely dominated the previously invincible Rousey in the main event of UFC 193 on Saturday night before finishing her with a brutal head kick knockout at the 59-second mark of the second round to claim the UFC bantamweight title.