The two women squaring off in the co-main event at IT Fight Series 38 this weekend in Dayton, Ohio have something in common: they’ve both squared off against new UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm.
Before Holm signed to the UFC earlier this year, the former boxing world champion was trying to make a name for herself on the regional MMA scene, and she squared off against both Jan Finney (7-11) and Allanna Jones (2-5) earlier in her career.
When Holm faced Finney, she was in just the second fight of her MMA career, and her team decided to test her against a veteran and former world title challenger in Finney. The bout took place at a Fresquez Productions event called “Clash in the Cage” in New Mexico in 2011, and Holm dispatched of the Ohio native via TKO in the second round.
Finney has actually squared off with a who’s who list of female fighters, ranging from Holm to others like Liz Carmouche, Cris Cyborg, Erin Toughill, Miesha Tate, Shayna Baszler, and Julie Kedzie.
Holm was becoming a bigger star when she faced Jones at Legacy FC 21 in 2013, as she was coming off of a victory under the Bellator MMA banner and sported a 4-0 record. The two squared off in a bout that was featured on AXS TV, and Holm dispatched of Jones with a vicious left high kick that was reminiscent of the one that dropped Rousey and led to her victory at UFC 193.
Check out video of both fights below, and stay tuned to BluegrassMMA for more on this fight later this week.
Holly Holm vs. Jan Finney (Fresquez Productions – Clash in the Cage 9/9/11)
Holly Holm vs. Allanna Jones (Legacy FC 21 7/19/13)