Former UFC champion Holly Holm signs with Jake Paul’s MVP boxing promotion

Holly Holm is stepping back into the boxing ring under Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) brand.

The organization announced Holm is set to face Yolanda Vega on June 28 on the undercard of an event headlined by Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Before the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion began her full-time mixed martial arts career in 2013, the Albuquerque, N.M., native was a multiple-time world boxing champion and is still considered one of the all-time great female boxers.

Holm debuted in the UFC in 2015 and that same year knocked out Ronda Rousey to become the UFC’s 135-pound champ. “The Preacher’s Daughter” never defended the title and only won five of her next 13 bouts in the UFC. All but two of her UFC losses were fellow UFC champions.

Now 43 years old, Holm last fought at UFC 300 roughly 13 months ago when she lost via submission to two-time Olympic gold medallist Kayla Harrison.

“I’m excited to partner with Most Valuable Promotions and return to the boxing ring. This new chapter is going to be an exciting journey, and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Holm said in an official MVP press release. “Coming full circle back to boxing — I’ve spent most of my MMA career at 135 pounds, and now I have the opportunity to make my boxing debut at that weight. With boxing titles in three higher weight classes under my belt, I’m eager to pursue a fourth title in a new division.”

Holm has a pro boxing record of 33-2-3; her last pro boxing match was in 2013 when she retained the IBA female, and WBF female light welterweight titles in a win over Mary McGee.

Mexico’s Vega, 29, is 10-0 coming off a unanimous decision win in September.

“Fighting against a champion of this stature on Saturday, June 28 brings me closer to my aim of becoming a world champion,” Vega said. “I respect and admire her work a lot, but today she has become my next goal, and goals are meant to be achieved.”

The upcoming MVP event is scheduled for the Honda Center in Anaheim and also features a WBA and WBO cruiserweight title bout between Gilberto Ramirez and Yuniel Dorticos.

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