Holly Holm ‘robbed’ after split decision loss to Ketlen Vieira as UFC star’s hopes of fighting Katie Taylor take a big hit

Holly Holm suffered a controversial loss at the hands of Ketlen Vieira on Saturday night.

Holm, 40, headlined the UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas opposite the Brazilian but the scorecards read 48-47 across the board; two for Vieira and one for Holm.

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It was hard to make the case for Vieira over the five rounds. Her best moment came when she nearly submitted Holm in the second round with a standing rear-naked choke.

However, Holm landed more strikes (188-122) and significant strikes (96-85), and was credited with 10:04 in ground control time. 

Holm also scored a knockdown with a sidekick in the fourth round which could have led to a 10-8 score. The former bantamweight champion was left baffled that Vieira had been awarded three rounds.

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"I felt [Vieira] had Round 2, but at the end of the fight, I truly felt in my heart that I had won the fight," Holm said afterwards. "So, I'm disappointed. I really don't give her three rounds."

Holm had been in line to face Katie Taylor inside a boxing ring in the near future, but just like how Conor McGregor’s loss to Dustin Poirier in January 2021 cost him a date with Manny Pacquiao, Holm’s loss to Vieira won’t help her stock.

Matchroom Boxing chairman and Taylor’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, told talkSPORT this week that Holm was in the running to face Taylor, too.

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Holm has an extensive background in boxing where she is a former world champion at light welterweight with a 33-2 record.

She gained mainstream attention when she became the first woman to defeat Ronda Rousey in UFC with a stunning high kick knockout.

Holm has gone 4-6 in MMA since that famous victory, but a return to boxing - a sport she hasn’t had a professional fight in since 2013 - is on the cards.

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There was also a split decision in the co-main event between welterweights Michel Pereira against Santiago Ponzinibbio

The judges preferred the power punches of Pereira and he secured a 29-28, 30-27, 28-29 victory to extend his winning streak to five. Surely a UFC ranking awaits.