--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Holly Holm was a boxer for a long time…" description: "\"Holly Holm was a boxer for a long time, and Leslie Smith comes from muay thai. It's different. Holly is more defensive, while Leslie comes forward.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/cris-cyborg-6929_defensive_holly-holm-was-a-boxer-for-a-long-time-a_2321318.jpg" --- # Holly Holm was a boxer for a long time, and Leslie Smith… ![“Holly Holm was a boxer for a long time, and Leslie Smith comes from muay thai. It's different. Holly is more defensive, while Leslie comes forward.” quote by Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/cris-cyborg-6929_defensive_holly-holm-was-a-boxer-for-a-long-time-a_2321318.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/cris-cyborg-6929_defensive_holly-holm-was-a-boxer-for-a-long-time-a_2321318.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/cris-cyborg-6929_defensive_holly-holm-was-a-boxer-for-a-long-time-a_2321318.jpg) > “Holly Holm was a boxer for a long time, and Leslie Smith comes from muay thai. It's different. Holly is more defensive, while Leslie comes forward.” [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Different combat sports emphasize distinct strategies; boxing favors defense, Muay Thai emphasizes forward pressure. **In simple terms:** Boxing is defensive, Muay Thai is aggressive. Key Takeaway Adapt tactics to opponent’s style. Themes martics strategy combat sports Mood focused analytical Type instructional strategic When to use this quote - MMA training - coach instruction - fight preparation - match analysis Key Concepts Defensive posture forward pressure style adaptation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance defense and aggression? - When is a defensive approach most effective? A Different Perspective Defensive style may limit offensive opportunities if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defensive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defensive/) [Different Holly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-holly-5550122/) [Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward/) [Holly Defensive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holly-defensive-5550123/) [Holly Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holly-holm-4620245/) [Holm Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holm-boxer-5550121/) [Leslie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leslie-smith-5550124/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Muay thai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muay-thai/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [Holly Holm is a heck of an athlete and a heck of a fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-lawler/holly-holm-is-a-heck-of-an-athlete-and-a-heck-of-a-fighter/) [Robbie Lawler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-lawler/) > [Ronda's got phenomenal grappling, but the way she enters, she's striking her way into the clinch, which is much harder to do on such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/ronda-s-got-phenomenal-grappling-but-the-way-she-enters-she-s/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) > [I always wanted to talk to Ronda about how she felt the night before that night that she lost to Holly Holm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/i-always-wanted-to-talk-to-ronda-about-how-she-felt-the-night-before/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [Who inside MMA that's a champion goes to fight Muay Thai? Nobody. But I love competing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/who-inside-mma-that-s-a-champion-goes-to-fight-muay-thai-nobody-but-i/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [I love striking, but MMA and Muay Thai are different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/i-love-striking-but-mma-and-muay-thai-are-different/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [I like to compete in everything - I like to compete in jiu-jitsu, I like to compete in wrestling and Muay Thai, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/i-like-to-compete-in-everything-i-like-to-compete-in-jiu-jitsu-i-like/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [I love the idea of going to work and having to fight and learn a new skill set, whether it's muay Thai or Kali…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-renner/i-love-the-idea-of-going-to-work-and-having-to-fight-and-learn-a-new/) [Jeremy Renner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-renner/) > [I'm a kickboxer, Muay Thai guy, I'm more traditional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-luque/i-m-a-kickboxer-muay-thai-guy-i-m-more-traditional/) [Vicente Luque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-luque/) > [I don't do Muay Thai, Kung Fu and box for no reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/i-don-t-do-muay-thai-kung-fu-and-box-for-no-reason/) [Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/) > [There's no question in my mind that the times I was in my prime, I was the most well-rounded fighter out there - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-shamrock/there-s-no-question-in-my-mind-that-the-times-i-was-in-my-prime-i-was/) [Ken Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-shamrock/) > [I considered leaving MMA for Muay Thai, but at the same time I always sparred with good MMA fights and did great, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-moraes/i-considered-leaving-mma-for-muay-thai-but-at-the-same-time-i-always/) [Marlon Moraes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-moraes/) > [Growing up either from classes or watching movies I knew, of course, about kung fu, karate, aikido, Muay Thai... But the first time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-evans/growing-up-either-from-classes-or-watching-movies-i-knew-of-course/) [Gareth Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-evans/) > [I was 16, I just wanted to do something in my life. I wanted to be healthy, I wanted to lose some weight and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/i-was-16-i-just-wanted-to-do-something-in-my-life-i-wanted-to-be/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [I have almost 100 Muay Thai fights, so I used to train and fight with really tough kickers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/i-have-almost-100-muay-thai-fights-so-i-used-to-train-and-fight-with/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [We already have our history with Joanna in Muay Thai and we can start our history in MMA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentina-shevchenko/we-already-have-our-history-with-joanna-in-muay-thai-and-we-can-start/) [Valentina Shevchenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentina-shevchenko/) ## More by Cris Cyborg > [I think when you train in just one sport separately, you learn more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/i-think-when-you-train-in-just-one-sport-separately-you-learn-more/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [I think, as a professional, inside the cage you can fix anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/i-think-as-a-professional-inside-the-cage-you-can-fix-anything/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [I think Ronda's biggest fear was losing to me, so if we were to do it in WWE, she would have to win. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/i-think-ronda-s-biggest-fear-was-losing-to-me-so-if-we-were-to-do-it/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [I don't want to talk trash about somebody: I want to prove it inside the cage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/i-don-t-want-to-talk-trash-about-somebody-i-want-to-prove-it-inside/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [I think God wants the best for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/i-think-god-wants-the-best-for-me/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [Gina Carano is a great athlete, and I'd be happy if she returns to MMA - doesn't matter if it's against Ronda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/gina-carano-is-a-great-athlete-and-i-d-be-happy-if-she-returns-to-mma/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [I never turn down fights. Anybody who follows my career knows that I accept fights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/i-never-turn-down-fights-anybody-who-follows-my-career-knows-that-i/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [I was a very good athlete: actually professional in the sport of handball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/i-was-a-very-good-athlete-actually-professional-in-the-sport-of/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [It's no secret that the UFC doesn't promote Brazilians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/it-s-no-secret-that-the-ufc-doesn-t-promote-brazilians/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [I love to fight. Keeping me at home without a fight is the same to offer candy to a kid and then take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/i-love-to-fight-keeping-me-at-home-without-a-fight-is-the-same-to/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [I never hated Ronda. She's always talked about me; she did that to promote herself because when she started, nobody knew her, and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/i-never-hated-ronda-she-s-always-talked-about-me-she-did-that-to/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [I want to make great fights, emotional fights, for all my fans and everyone watching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/i-want-to-make-great-fights-emotional-fights-for-all-my-fans-and/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [Both fighters can't win in this sport, so you have to leave it in God's hands. Losing is not the end of the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/both-fighters-can-t-win-in-this-sport-so-you-have-to-leave-it-in-god/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [People say what they want in interviews, but when they get a contract, they say other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/people-say-what-they-want-in-interviews-but-when-they-get-a-contract/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) > [Love me or hate me, it's all in my favor. If you love me, I'll always be in your heart. If you hate me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/love-me-or-hate-me-it-s-all-in-my-favor-if-you-love-me-i-ll-always-be/) [Cris Cyborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) [Explore all 96 Cris Cyborg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/) ## More Defensive quotes > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [I have my meals delivered... you know what I like? Chicken and rice... But the problem with being a defensive lineman is, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-have-my-meals-delivered-you-know-what-i-like-chicken-and-rice-but/) [Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/) > [Before I signed for Liverpool, I was playing for Newcastle as a No. 10 - basically, I was always attacking. I didn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/before-i-signed-for-liverpool-i-was-playing-for-newcastle-as-a-no-10/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) > [Any time I'm healthy I feel like I'm the best defensive player in the NFL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrann-mathieu/any-time-i-m-healthy-i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-defensive-player-in-the/) [Tyrann Mathieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrann-mathieu/) > [“I need to ask, are you afraid of spiders?" Nicholas blinked, suddenly caught off guard, "Yes, I'm afraid of spiders." "Were you always?" "What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-irwin/i-need-to-ask-are-you-afraid-of-spiders-nicholas-blinked-suddenly/) [Stephen M. Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-irwin/) > [You have to feel confident. If you don't, then you're going to be hesitant and defensive, and there'll be a lot of things working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/you-have-to-feel-confident-if-you-don-t-then-you-re-going-to-be/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [I'm a coach who likes to have the ball, but what I really think is, 'How can you be in charge of the game?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-espirito-santo/i-m-a-coach-who-likes-to-have-the-ball-but-what-i-really-think-is-how/) [Nuno Espirito Santo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuno-espirito-santo/) > [Iran has little capacity to deploy force. Its strategic doctrines are defensive, designed to deter invasion long enough for diplomacy to set it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/iran-has-little-capacity-to-deploy-force-its-strategic-doctrines-are/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“To switch effectively from defense to social engagement strategies, the nervous system must do two things: (1) assess risk, and (2) if the environment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-w-porges/to-switch-effectively-from-defense-to-social-engagement-strategies/) [Stephen W. Porges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-w-porges/) > [I've never just thought of myself as a defensive-only player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-g-anunoby/i-ve-never-just-thought-of-myself-as-a-defensive-only-player/) [O. G. Anunoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-g-anunoby/) > [The top coaches want wide strikers who cut inside. They want playmaking midfielders who can play between the lines as well as perform their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/the-top-coaches-want-wide-strikers-who-cut-inside-they-want/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [“Defense mechanisms protect us. Fortresses isolate us. And far too often we begin with the former and end up constructing the latter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/defense-mechanisms-protect-us-fortresses-isolate-us-and-far-too-often/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [One of the turning points in the look of the Guardian is when we decided Logan Thackeray would be a Guardian as opposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-grubb/one-of-the-turning-points-in-the-look-of-the-guardian-is-when-we/) [Jeff Grubb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-grubb/) > [I'm a storyteller... I haves a God-given gift that I can share with you and perhaps entertain you and bring you along for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/i-m-a-storyteller-i-haves-a-god-given-gift-that-i-can-share-with-you/) [Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/) > [The beginning of everything is our defensive organisation. The clean sheet is always the first objective that we have in the game. Always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-espirito-santo/the-beginning-of-everything-is-our-defensive-organisation-the-clean/) [Nuno Espirito Santo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nuno-espirito-santo/) [Browse all 394 Defensive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defensive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Holly Holm was a boxer for a long time, and Leslie Smith comes from muay thai. It's different. Holly is more defensive, while Leslie comes forward.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cris Cyborg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/holly-holm-was-a-boxer-for-a-long-time-and-leslie-smith-comes-from/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defensive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/holly-holm-was-a-boxer-for-a-long-time-and-leslie-smith-comes-from/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/cris-cyborg-6929_defensive_holly-holm-was-a-boxer-for-a-long-time-a_2321318.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/cris-cyborg-6929_defensive_holly-holm-was-a-boxer-for-a-long-time-a_2321318.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/cris-cyborg-6929_defensive_holly-holm-was-a-boxer-for-a-long-time-a_2321318.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Holly Holm was a boxer for a long time, and Leslie Smith comes from muay thai. It's different. Holly is more…” — Cris Cyborg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Cris Cyborg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-cyborg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Holly Holm was a boxer for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/holly-holm-was-a-boxer-for-a-long-time-and-leslie-smith-comes-from/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cyborg/holly-holm-was-a-boxer-for-a-long-time-and-leslie-smith-comes-from/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```