Holly Holm thought she was winning her UFC 196 title fight with Miesha Tate, and that knowledge may have contributed to her downfall.
Outside of a deep submission scare in the second, the majority of Saturday's co-main event took place on the feet, where Holm held the advantage. That scare became a reality in the final round, when Tate took Holm's back and made her pass out in a rear-naked choke to claim the women's bantamweight championship.
After the fight, the scorecards showed that Holm was leading after four rounds. She briefly took her foot off the pedal, which made all the difference once Tate put on the pressure.
"You know, I think that I just have to for me, any time in loss, I just have to be honest with myself," said Holm, according to Luke Thomas of MMA Fighting. "I feel like I knew I was ahead on the scorecards and honestly, maybe I felt like I was getting a little too complacent there instead of being there acting with that sense of urgency.
"She got in, I should've been fighting the hands before doing that. I let her get it way too tight before I tried to shuck her off. Big mistake. Cost me everything tonight, but I'll be back."
For someone known as a decorated striker, Holm showed potential in rolling with submission specialists like Tate and Ronda Rousey. She still has a lot to learn in the grappling department and she expressed excitement at resuming her training and fighting as soon as possible.
"I want to go back in the gym and get better. This is a whole different fight I had and I do feel like my whole MMA career has been on this fast course, which I love," said Holm. "I want the challenge. I wanted to take this challenge.
"I wanted to get back in there, I want a rematch or whoever they'll set up a fight with. I want that. I'm here to fight."
