At the post-fight press conference, Tate was asked what it felt like to win.
“It’s hard to put into words,” she explained. “But I did tell Bryan that it will be a red boxer brief night.”
That was a reference to her boyfriend, UFC men’s bantamweight Bryan Caraway, and to Conor McGregor’s use of the phrase “red panty night” to describe the lucrative contracts that fighters sign to face him.
Then Holm was asked to reflect on the loss. Coincidentally, McGregor at that moment sat down, and the pair, who both lost in stunning fashion, shared gentle, knowing pats on the arm.
“I had two fights in the UFC and they said next up is Ronda and I said, ‘Great, let’s do this,’” said Holm, as transcribed by
Tristen Critchfield for
Sherdog. “I know coming into this next fight it was a whole different fight. I knew everybody’s expectations were high. I still feel like I’m learning. This is still the beginning for me. I haven’t been doing MMA that long. I feel like I have a lot to accomplish in this sport. The Ronda fight was a big high. It was also back in November.”
“For me, any time I lose, I have to be honest with myself. I knew I was ahead on the scorecards,. Maybe I felt like I was a little too complacent there instead of still acting with that sense of urgency. …I let her get in way too tight before I tried to shuck her off. Big mistake, it cost me everything tonight, but I’ll be back.”
“I want to fight Miesha tomorrow. She would want the same thing [if she lost]. I am more anxious to get in and train than I have been in a long time. Everybody asked, ‘Why are you taking this fight? You should wait for the rematch [with Rousey].’ I’m in it to fight. Tonight I made some mistakes. I’m going to fix those mistakes and I’m going to come back stronger.
“Miesha capitalized. She can be behind in a fight and she can still finish. I let my guard down and it cost me the fight. I want to get back in the gym and get better. I do feel like my whole MMA career has been on this fast course, which I love and I want the challenge.”
“I’ll be training right away, and I’ll take the fight as soon as they give anything to me. It’s whatever opportunity they give to me. Who doesn’t want a rematch? If you’re making this your career, it’s because you have passion for it, it’s because you have pride, that want for victory. That is what I want. The biggest thing that hurts right now is my heart. I do want the rematch. But who’s to say they’ll give it too me right away? If I have to fight somebody else to get there, that’s OK.”
