Ronda Rousey thrills Australian UFC crowd ahead of her 'biggest challenge' against boxing world champion Holly Holm at the Etihad stadium in Melbourne

  • Ronda Rousey fights Holly Holm at UFC 193 on November 15
  • Fight will be Rousey's seventh defence of her UFC bantamweight title
  • Rousey's has won last three fights in a combined 64 seconds 
  • Holm is a 19-time world boxing champion across three weight classes
  • Polish strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk also on the card

By Rory Brigstock-barron For Mailonline

Published: 05:58 EST, 16 September 2015 | Updated: 07:42 EST, 16 September 2015

With a vocal crowd cheering her on, Ronda Rousey had some fighting words for Holly Holm less than two months before their UFC bantamweight title fight in Melbourne on November 15.

At a hype-filled promotional event filled with more MMA fans than media, Rousey, when asked if she had seen much of Australia's second-largest city, replied: 'I wish I had a chance do some more touristy things.

'After I beat Holly I will have some time ... what makes me so confident is that I'm the greatest fighter in the world.'

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Ronda Rousey took selfies with fans ahead of the press conference at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne

Ronda Rousey took selfies with fans ahead of the press conference at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne

Bantamweight champ Rousey got the chance to meet some of the thousands of fans that turned up to greet her

Bantamweight champ Rousey got the chance to meet some of the thousands of fans that turned up to greet her

Rousey is one of the most prominent US athletes, winning her last three bouts in a combined 64 seconds

Rousey is one of the most prominent US athletes, winning her last three bouts in a combined 64 seconds

Rousey (12-0) will make her seventh title defence against boxing champion Holm (9-0), in the headlining bout at Etihad Stadium.

A former Olympic bronze medalist in judo, Rousey has become one of the most prominent U.S. female athletes while winning her last three bouts in a combined 64 seconds.

In her last fight, she stopped Bethe Correia in 34 seconds in the Brazilian's home country.

Holm underscored the champion's form, saying that against Rousey she would take it 'one second at a time.'

Rousey squares off against Holm at the press conference, both are undefeated in their MMA careers

Rousey squares off against Holm at the press conference, both are undefeated in their MMA careers

Ronda Rousey arrives at the press conference in Melbourne
Holly Holm arrives at the press conference in Melbourne

Rousey and Holm arrive at the news conference where Holm said she could 'deal with being the underdog'

'I still have more to prove, and Holly is one more person that I'm going to prove myself against,' Rousey said

'I still have more to prove, and Holly is one more person that I'm going to prove myself against,' Rousey said

'Mentally, a lot of things that I've gone through fighting against some of the best in the world in boxing, has given me that confidence that I'm going to be able to deal with coming in as an underdog,' Holm said.

Rousey was scheduled to defend her bantamweight title against Holm on January 2 in Las Vegas, but a thumb injury to welterweight champion Robbie Lawler changed the UFC's schedule.

Lawler was slated to defend his title against Carlos Condit in the main event at UFC 193 at Etihad Stadium, which holds more than 55,000.

The event is expected to see the highest attendance in the UFC's history, with extra seats added to the stadium creating the potential for around 70,000 spectators. 

Rousey has had her eye on Holm, saying: 'I have known that our paths were going to cross at some point.'

Rousey has had her eye on Holm, saying: 'I have known that our paths were going to cross at some point.'

'What makes Holly such an intriguing challenger for me is that I've been watching her since the day she started in the ring,' said Rousey.

'I have known that our paths were going to cross at some point. I know that if there's a 19-time boxing world champion coming into my sport, I have my eye on her.

'She's been really impressive with how she's adapted to MMA from pure boxing to head-kick knockouts.

'I know she's the type of fighter that I want to test myself against. I still have more to prove, and Holly is one more person that I'm going to prove myself against.'

Polish UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk and Canadian Valérie Létourneau are also on the card

Polish UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk and Canadian Valérie Létourneau are also on the card

UFC president Dana White said two women's fights headlining such a huge event had never been done before 

UFC president Dana White said two women's fights headlining such a huge event had never been done before 

While Rousey has dispatched all comers with ease in her UFC career so far and is priced at 1/16 with bookmakers to win the fight,the multiple ESPY award winner thinks Holm will provide her most difficulty challenge to date.

'It’ll definitely be the biggest challenge I’ve had yet,' Rousey said.

'A lot of the guys I’ve fought before, they don’t have the footwork that Holly has and she’s a great counter-puncher. So I can’t hold anything back.

'I can’t really be aggressive right away because Holly is a counter-puncher. She is a person that I need to be extremely careful with.

'In saying that though, she’s a 19-time boxing champion, not a 19-time MMA champion.' 

The Melbourne card will also see another women's title fight, with Polish strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk taking on Canadian veteran Valerie Letourneau in the co-main event.

'In the history of combat sports, this has never been done,' UFC president Dana White said at the news conference.' 

 

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