Cornelia Holm has taken over as the new pound-for-pound leader following the latest update of the official IMMAF world amateur rankings as the 2017 European Open Championships came to a close on April 2 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Swedish standout and reigning IMMAF World champion retained the European Open title having also won the gold medal in Prague 2016. Since dropping to Bantamweight in May 2016 Holm (12-3) has remained undefeated with a streak of 9 victories, collecting IMMAF World and European Open titles, in addition to the Swedish MMA Federation’s National Championship. Holm solidified her place as the world’s top amateur fighter with yet another display of striking grit and victories forced home with unstoppable takedown prowess. [caption id="attachment_13134" align="aligncenter" width="960"]
Holm evades the strikes of Camilla Mannes to secure the takedown at the 2016 World Championship finals[/caption] In this year’s European Open semi-finals the 28-year-old bested Arziko Bregu for the second time in her amateur career, battling through the Italian’s striking talents to land knees on the inside and snatch a third round submission stoppage via a rear-naked-choke. In the 135lb tournament final she faced off against top French prospect and national karate champion Manon Fiorot, going toe-to-toe with the striking specialist and securing takedowns at will. [caption id="attachment_13417" align="aligncenter" width="960"]
2017 European Open final vs. Manon Fiorot[/caption] This latest triumph could be the final time that we see Holm wearing the red and blue on IMMAF’s international amateur platform, as she now looks towards a professional debut towards the end of the Summer. “That’s very cool,” Holm told IMMAF.org when informed that she was the new queen of the pound-for-pound rankings. “I’ve felt really confident this past year and I now have a 9 fight win streak. I work hard and focused towards the goal of becoming, not only the best amateur fighter in the world, but the best fighter. Hopefully I’ll make my pro debut in the end of the Summer and stay on that level as well! I’m the current amateur world champ and the future in pro.” Following the IMMAF World Championships in 2015, USA Middleweight Brendan Allen made history as the inaugural pound-for-pound number one. He was succeeded in 2016 by Sweden’s reigning Women’s Flyweight world champion Gabriella Ringblom, however Ringblom’s withdrawal from the 2017 European Open presented the opportunity for Holm to claim the throne and she insinuates that there’s no stopping her now. 
By IMMAF.org lead writer and website manager, Jorden Curran]]>
