Holly Holm's coach Mike Winkeljohn says Ronda Rousey didn't necessarily err by rushing his charge in their UFC world title fight, but was simply beaten by an intellectually superior fighter in Melbourne.
Much of the talk coming out of the UFC 193 fight that shocked the MMA world centred on whether Rousey's single-minded rushing of Holm - a renowned boxer and kickboxer - cost her the fight and ended with her being kicked right into hospital by Holm.
"Ronda is an emotional fighter and she has overwhelmed people with that pressure sometimes and it's worked for her in the past," Winklejohn said.
"It's just Holly is at another level when it comes to intellect."
That intellect and boxing nous served Holm well against an opponent who was brazen, bordering on arrogant in her attack, as Holm let the fight come to her, keeping Rousey at a controlled distance at Etihad Stadium.
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Winklejohn wasn't surprised by the result, only how quick it came about and even said Holm had intentionally held back in some of her fights since arriving in the UFC.
"Footwork is always the key for Holly Holm in her fights and Holly has held back a bit in the past and that was all part of the plan," he said.
"We knew we would fight Ronda one day and Holly showed why she is now the best in the world."
Winklejohn also said a pivotal moment in the fight was when Holm escaped an attempt by Rousey at an armbar submission two minutes into the fight.
"We ripped it over and over and over and it's always scary when someone gets into that position that they are known to finish people, but we were confident she would get out of it and she did."
