How is Holly Holm adjusting to the life of a champion?
Ahead of their title fight at UFC 193, Ronda Rousey warned Holly Holm numerous times that the life of a champion wasn't for everybody.
"She'll really enjoy her life a lot more (if she loses)," Rousey said just a couple of weeks ahead of the fight. "The life of a champion, I think, isn't for everybody. And I think that the life of a contender, it's a lot nicer in a lot of ways."
It's now been just more than a week since Holm finished Rousey with a brutal second-round head kick at UFC 193 in Australia, and the whirlwind surrounding her hasn't slowed down. Holm has done dozens of interviews and appearances after flying back to the United States and from the look of things, her schedule won't be slowing any time soon.
So how is Holm adjusting to her new life as a UFC champion?
"It's one of those things that I'm busy, but I can sleep when I'm dead," Holm told FOX Sports recently. "I will be happy to get home and have some peace and quiet after all the storm settles but I'm definitely OK with it. I'm happy to do this, it's just a reminder that I won so I think I can handle that."
As soon as Holm arrived back in the United States, she was whisked away to Los Angeles for more appearances as well as a trip to the L.A. Clippers game alongside actor Jamie Foxx, who broadcast the experience via his Periscope account.
Holm won't deny that it's all been a little crazy, but it's not something she'd trade for anything else in the world.
"It's very surreal. I don't think I'll ever get to where it's not exciting," Holm said. "I love meeting new people. It was such an honor to meet and be able to hang out with Jamie Foxx. I mean who gets to do that? I've always been a fan of him and I love to get to know people outside of filming or outside of what you see on TV.
"I got to meet Derek Jeter last night so how awesome is that? It's not one of those things that gets old. I'm looking forward to anyone I can meet on this journey and it's never going to get old. I love it."
While she was at the Clippers game, Holm also ran into pound-for-pound boxing king Floyd Mayweather. Holm was very familiar with Mayweather while coming from a background in boxing, but she had never met him.
According to Holm he had nothing but kind words about her performance and the victory over Rousey at UFC 193.
"It was an honor to meet him; that's not something that happens everyday. I was very excited," Holm said. "He just said 'Hey, strong work, keep it up, it was impressive, good job.'"
One night later, Holm was ringside for the title fight between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Miguel Cotto and she received a huge ovation from the crowd while rubbing elbows with boxing greats Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins.
At the heart of it all, Holm is still just soaking it all in and even she's been blown away by the support and reception she's received since becoming champion.
Now the athletes she watched and admired for years are becoming fans of hers, and Holm couldn't be more appreciative of their adoration.
"It's crazy and I was just talking about that this morning. It's like this is nuts. I watch them on TV, how do they even know what's going on in my life?" Holm said with a laugh.
"I feel very blessed and very honored and it's a special moment in life and I want to take it all in."
