Injury Forces Holly Holm To Withdraw From Raquel Pennington Rematch At UFC 243

David McIntyre – USA TODAY Sports

Former UFC bantamweight champion Holly ‘The Preachers Daughter’ Holm has been forced to withdraw from next weekend’s rematch with ‘Rocky’ Raquel Pennington at UFC 243 in Melbourne, due to injury.

The former 135-pound best was set to re-run her 2015 clash with Pennington, but according to reports, a injury has forced a setback and a subsequent withdrawal from the already thin card. At this time, it is unknown whether Pennington will remain on the card or if the promotion is actively searching for a replacement.

Holm, who was set to make her return to the venue of her shocking UFC 193 knockout of Ronda Rousey most recently challenged Amanda Nunes for the bantamweight title at UFC 239, where she suffered a first round head kick loss. The 37-year-old former boxing and kickboxing champion has won just two of her last seven bouts, with wins coming against Megan Anderson and Bethe Correia.

A 1-4 record after stopping Rousey forced question marks over Holm’s future in the division, with losses coming thick and fast against Miesha Tate, Valentina Shevchenko, Germaine de Randamie, albeit controversial and now Bellator MMA featherweight, Cris Cyborg.

Colorado native Pennington recently ending her two fight slide in the Octagon, after losses to the aforementioned de Randamie and Nunes, the latter in her premier championship tilt, as she picked up a close decision win over recent UFC Fight Night Mexico City standout Irene Aldana.

Ross Markey

Senior writer for FightBook MMA. An aspiring mixed martial arts reporter based in Ireland. Producer of news articles, interviews, opinion features, and exclusive features such as, ‘The Fallout’, ‘The Breakdown, and, ‘This Week In MMA’.