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Holm's secret for dealing with pressure: Coffee, chocolate almonds

PAUL CROCK / AFP / Getty

It's a good thing for Holly Holm caffeine isn't a banned substance in the UFC.

In the lead-up to her battle with Ronda Rousey at UFC 193, the majority of the hype centered around then-champion Rousey's dominance. It was easy to overlook what Holm might have been going through, especially since everyone was expecting her to lose.

Holm didn't lose, and now that she's the UFC women's bantamweight champion, she has time to reflect on how some guilty pleasures helped her handle the immense pressure at the time.

"On some days, I overtrained. There will be times, when preparing for a big moment, where it can all seem overwhelming. On those days, you need a rest," Holm wrote in an article for Motto. "For me, it's going back and taking a bath in Epsom salt. You need to treat yourself. I'm a huge coffee addict. When you go out for coffee or even when you sit down with it at home, you know you're taking a break. You're going to enjoy it. If it's not coffee, maybe it's a glass of Diet Coke. Or wine. Or some chocolate almonds.

"So the key to winning the fight? Drink coffee, Diet Coke, and wine, and eat chocolate almonds. Maybe it is easy!"

Holm would go on to knock out Rousey in the second round of the main event of UFC 193, handing the superstar her first defeat.

- With h/t to FOXSports.com

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