Is It Time for Holly Holm to Retire?

Sometimes, things don’t go as intended. Such is the case for Holly Holm, whose loss against Kayla Harrison proved a harsh reality true. The “Preacher’s Daughter” submitted in the second round, leaving fans to wonder if she’s done as a fighter.

In fact, Dana White has called for Holm to retire.

“I would love to see Holly retire,” said White at the IFC 300 post-fight press conference.

Imagine your boss telling you that you need to hang it up. That’s a fate as cruel as getting fired or laid off.

So that raises the question: Should Holly Holm hang up her fighting gloves? Is her time up as an MMA fighter?

Why Holly Holm Must Retire

For one, Holm is 42 years old and is the oldest active female fighter in the UFC. While being a veteran presence in the locker room helps, it’s also sad to see a promising fighter crumble.

That’s especially true with Holm pulling a massive upset over Ronda Rousey for the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship. Going 5-7 (1 no-contest) after shocking the world is a cruel fate, often left to people like Buster Douglas.

But that’s not the only issue with watching Holly Holm fight. She’s slower, has less stamina, and doesn’t make timely in-fight decisions. Opponents can pick up on her movements easily, as was the case with Kayla Harrison.

Some Stories Don’t Have Happy Endings

This is a harsh reality for some people in life. One moment, they’re at the top of the mountain, enjoying the riches of their success. The next minute, everything’s taken away at the snap of a finger.

For Holly Holm, this is the cruelest of fates to be dealt with. Falling off the mountain after defeating the sport’s best is the worst case of “what if?” in the world. Nobody remembers the person who fell off after a big win, which is Holm’s fate.