Ronda Rousey will fight former boxer Holly Holm on Jan. 2

FILE - In this Dec. 28, 2013, file photo, Ronda Rousey, left, of Venice, Calif., punches Miesha Tate of Yakima, Wash., during the UFC 168 mixed martial arts women's bantamweight title fight in Las Vegas. Rousey has announced she will fight the world's former No. 1-rated female boxer next. Rousey told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Friday, Aug. 21, 2015, that she will defend her title against former world-champion boxer Holly Holm in Las Vegas on Jan. 2. (AP Photo/David Becker, File) FILE - In this Dec. 28, 2013, file photo, Ronda Rousey, left, of Venice, Calif., punches Miesha Tate of Yakima, Wash., during the UFC 168 mixed martial arts women's bantamweight title fight in Las Vegas. Rousey has announced she will fight the world's former No. 1-rated female boxer next. Rousey told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Friday, Aug. 21, 2015, that she will defend her title against former world-champion boxer Holly Holm in Las Vegas on Jan. 2. (AP Photo/David Becker, File)

By Associated Press August 21, 2015 3 min read

LOS ANGELES (AP) – UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will take on former boxing champion Holly Holm in her next bout on Jan. 2.

Rousey announced the matchup on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Friday. The unbeaten 135-pound star’s attempt at a seventh title defense will headline UFC 195 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“Definitely my biggest challenge to date, so I’m super excited about it,” Rousey told the morning show.

Rousey’s next bout was widely expected to be a third meeting with Miesha Tate, the only fighter who has ever survived a first round with Rousey.

Instead, Rousey (12-0) unexpectedly chose a meeting with Holm (9-0), who went 33-2-3 as a professional boxer and won several championship belts. The New Mexico native dedicated herself fully to mixed martial arts in 2013, training in the Albuquerque gym of respected trainer Greg Jackson.