Ronda Rousey UFC news 2017: Holm said Rousey's media blackout was proof that she wasn't prepared for the fight

Fight fans knew that things wouldn't be the same for Ronda Rousey after Holly Holm delivered a brutal kick to her head at Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 193. And before Holm unleashed the finishing blow, she had already shown the world the holes in Rousey's game, especially her defense. Since then, Rousey has bounced back and returned to the octagon. Unfortunately, UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes beat her up so bad that the referee had to stop the fight. Rousey looked unbeatable before. What happened?

In an interview with MMAFighting.com, Holm said she knew her former opponent wasn't mentally ready for the fight when she started boycotting the media.

"I know a lot of people said 'no MMA media, none of that', because she didn't want any distractions. Well, I really hate to do all of it, but guess what, that's what comes with the fight, and if I didn't do it, I don't even think I would be ready for the fight," she stated.

Some fighters may complain about all the pre-fight media events, but Holm believes that it actually helps a fighter prepare himself/herself for the bout. "If you can't even talk about it, if you can't even be doing the normal thing leading up, I don't think you're really ready to get in there and actually fight," she said.

It's a valid point. A lot of fighters talk trash to their opponents to pump themselves up before a fight. But after the fight, they would just shake hands and talk. They know that it's not personal.

Rousey's preparation was different. She might have trained her body for the fight, but she clearly wasn't ready mentally. Rousey might think the media responsibilities were a distraction, but Holm said they were necessary because it helps the fighter focus on the goal.

Right now, Rousey is once again avoiding the media, but at least she has ended her social media silence with a post on Instagram.