Manager explains why Holly Holm is no longer fighting Aspen Ladd at UFC 235

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women’s bantamweight champion, Holly Holm, is no longer fighting Aspen Ladd at the UFC 235 pay-per-view (PPV) event, scheduled for Sat., March 2, 2019 inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

That’s according to promotion president, Dana White, who dropped the bantamweight bomb at the UFC 235 press conference on Thursday (watch it). Unfortunately, White was vague in his explanation as to why the bout was scratched roughly one month before fight night.

“We’re in negotiations on a contract extension right now,” Holm’s manager, Lenny Fresquez told ESPN. “She’s very disappointed this fight is not happening, but she understands this is a business. We’re in the middle of those negotiations right now, and everybody thought it would be best to get through that.”

Holm (12-4) hasn’t competed since her unanimous decision win over Megan Anderson back in June 2018, thanks to this. “The Preacher’s Daughter” has flip-flopped back and forth between the bantamweight and featherweight divisions over the last couple of years.

”My heart and my mind, my soul, everything was focused for March 2,” Holm wrote on Instagram. “I’m really bummed out about it. I didn’t have any idea this was going to be canceled and I don’t really know what’s going to happen. But I’m going to keep training and I’m going to show you guys my hard work is going to pay off, whatever the next fight might be.”

The timing is a bit suspect.

After disposing of featherweight champion, Cris Cyborg, reigning 135-pound titleholder, Amanda Nunes, made it clear that she intends to return to the bantamweight division to defend her strap, where Holm is ranked No. 2.

Yes, Aspen Ladd is pissed.

“I signed to fight Holly Holm on 12/27/18. I’m ready to go, and am finding out this information, just now, like everyone else,” Ladd wrote on social media. “I don’t know why Holly and her team have now backed out. Sorry everyone, this sucks, hopefully I have some good news to share soon.”

So much for “putting yourself out there.”