Holly Holm meets Juliana Werner for inaugural Legacy FC women’s bantamweight belt
Former boxing world champion Holly Holm (6-0) will look to add an MMA title to her trophy case, as she challenges Juliana Werner (7-3) for Legacy Fighting Championship’s first women’s bantamweight title.
MMAjunkie today confirmed with Legacy FC President Mick Maynard that Holm and Werner will meet at an as-yet-unannounced Legacy FC event expected to take place in April in Holm’s hometown of Albuquerque, N.M.
“The Preacher’s Daughter†Holm is a 32-year-old knockout artist and longtime Mike Winkeljohn protege. Holm launched her professional boxing career in 2002, eventually amassing a 33-2-3 mark that saw her earn the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council, World Boxing Federation, International Boxing Association, Women’s International Boxing Association and International Female Boxers Association world titles, as well as twice earning The Ring’s “Female Fighter of the Year†award.
Holm took her first MMA bout in 2011 and eventually hung up her boxing gloves to focus on a career in the cage. She’s since racked up six wins in her first six appearances, including five knockout victories.
Meanwhile, Werner is a 32-year-old Brazilian who has been fighting professionally since 2005. As a professional kickboxer, she has built an impressive 24-3 mark that saw her become a six-time Brazilian champion and two-time South American title holder.
After opening her MMA career at 3-3, Werner took nearly five years away from the sport, remaining inactive in MMA from 2006 to 2011. Since her return, she’s 4-0 and now boasts a five-fight win streak overall.
Interestingly, all three of Werner’s career MMA losses have come to onetime Invicta FC flyweight title challenger Vanessa Porto, who is currently ranked No. 2 in the latest Unified Women’s Mixed Martial Arts rankings.
