The women will be on full display tomorrow (Sat., June
17, 2017) at UFC Fight Night 111 live on Fight Pass from inside
Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore, as former UFC
bantamweight champion Holly Holm squares off with one-time divisional
title challenger Bethe Correia.
It will mark Correia’s first main event
bid since getting flattened by Ronda Rousey in just 34 seconds at UFC
190.
In preparation for the afternoon headliner, we take a
closer look at what both Holm and Correia need to do in order to leave
the Octagon with their hand raised. Here are their individual keys to
victory.
Holly Holm
1. Stick and move...
Despite her recent standup struggles against Germaine de
Randamie and Valentina Shevchenko, Holm remains one of the very best
strikers at 135 pounds. The former champ is able to do many things that
other bantamweights cannot, which is why she’s been able to control the
majority of her UFC fights.
Against a raging bull like Correia, Holm would be smart
to rely on her ability to land and get out of harm’s way. She has done
this countless times in the past and possesses the athleticism and
footwork to stick and move on queue in a matchup with Correia. It will
be Holm’s best chance to score points, play the role of matador, control
the action, and implement her gameplan more and more as the fight moves
on.
2. Play the range game...
With a six-inch reach advantage, Holm would be foolish
not to expose Correia from distance at UFC Fight Night 111. The former
champion is already one of the best strikers in the weight class when it
comes to range control, angle work, and in-and-out movement, so she
shouldn’t have too much trouble landing from the outer edges on an
opponent who often stands stationary.
If “The Preacher’s Daughter” can stretch the cage with
her hands early, it could leave Correia susceptible to Holm’s
destructive head kicks.
Bethe Correia
1. Early aggression...
Considering Correia is less technical, athletic,
explosive, and skilled on the feet as Holm, it will bode extremely well
for the Brazilian if she comes out aggressive. The less time Holm has to
adapt to Correia on the feet the better chance “Pitbull” has of landing
strikes early and setting the tone.
Correia will obviously be taking a huge risk in plodding
forward and putting the pressure on Holm, but de Randamie showed earlier
this year at UFC 208 that Holm can be thrown off her game if she’s
unable to find her groove early.
2. Counter attack inside...
Not only will Correia be forced to make up for a six-inch
reach disadvantage at UFC Fight Night 111, but she’s going to have to
figure out how to hit a moving target. Holm is very shifty around the
edges and understands how to pepper an opponent with strikes without
taking any damage herself.
In order to counteract Holm’s rangy offensive and
defensive efforts, Correia must look to get inside and make this main
event clash a dirty brawl. Once there, the Brazilian should aim to take a
page out of Shevchenko’s book, wait for Holm to strike first, and
counter with hooks and combinations.
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