After controversial loss, UFC 208's Holly Holm wants rematch with new UFC featherweight champ Germaine de Randamie

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Holly Holm wants another crack at newly crowned featherweight champ Germaine de Randamie after their controversial headliner at UFC 208.

“I think it warrants a rematch,” the former UFC women’s bantamweight champ told MMAjunkie at Barclays Center, which hosted the pay-per-view event Saturday in Brooklyn, N.Y. “When you have more than half the people saying the fight should have gone the other way, usually that warrants a rematch. So that would be awesome.”

The question facing Holm (10-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) is whether she’ll get her wish after a lackluster fight and unanimous decision loss. In an action-light affair, judges returned 48-47 scores for de Randamie (8-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC).

Working in Holm’s favor is the close tally, which shined a spotlight on referee Todd Anderson’s decision not to deduct any points from de Randamie despite punches after the bell in the second and third rounds.

Holm believes the strikes were intentional and said they were the hardest de Randamie landed over five rounds. Yet she blames herself for not capitalizing in two situations where she had her opponent hurt.

“Well, yeah (it was intentional),” she said. “If it’s one shot after the bell after a combo, that’s an accident. But I still think I could have won the fight on my own.”

Asked whether she’d lost respect for de Randamie, Holm said, “I guess I’d say so, but it’s still a fight. I know she’s not trying to be my friend, either. Next time, I’ll just be ready to throw back.”

Holm thinks the fight began to turn in the third round, when she landed a head kick late in the frame that preceded de Randamie’s second illegal blow, and that the championship rounds should have been awarded to her corner.

“The fight could have gone either way,” she said. “I felt like I had three rounds, but I also had her rocked twice and didn’t capitalize on it, and that’s my own fault.”

The loss was Holm’s third straight in the octagon after her famous title-winning upset over now-former bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. If it were to happen, an immediate rematch might be delayed by de Randamie, who said she needed surgery to repair a damaged ligament in her hand.

Holm came into the inaugural featherweight title bout hoping to reverse her skid and win a UFC title in another division. Instead, she goes back to the drawing board, leaving her in a poor position to call her next shot.

“I’m sitting in a spot where my last three fights, I’m 0-3, so I’ll take whatever they’ll give me,” Holm said.

For complete coverage of UFC 208, check out the UFC Events section of the site.