UGP 65 BEFORE THE WALK: SERENITY HOLMES
The Beginning
Houston, Texas
INTERVIEWER: “How did we get here?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “Well, it’s a very long story.”
[Recorded footage of Serenity’s first training session at the age of 14 years old in her father’s gym when it was just inside a warehouse starts the documentary video. The child rolled on the mat with other teenagers around her age practicing her Ju-Jitsu wearing her Gi with a white belt laced around her waist. Her father, Andre Holmes, on the mat in black tight gi spats walking around monitoring her progress.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I was fourteen when I started everything. I grew up in Houston and this isn’t one of those stories where people will say they had a hard time growing up on the streets. I’ve never had an issue growing up in Houston outside my home. I lived a great life and I’m thankful for that.
[The candid shot of Serenity Holmes walking down a trail in Houston underneath the scorching sun transitions into another shot of her shadow boxing on top of a hill.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “But no family is perfect. Everyone has their issues and mine was more internal. Honestly, what I went through, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone else.”
[Finally, the scene of Serenity in present time is her back inside her childhood home of Houston, Texas, sitting on a couch in the living room wearing a strapped tank top, baggy pants and her slippers. She sits cross-legged on the couch and upright speaking directly to the production team who has set up a more confessional style of interview. Upon speaking about her troubles, one can see how her demeanor has changed from confident to conservative.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “It’s a battle I still face. It’s a demon I’m still contending against. Everyone has their ups and downs when they are growing up, it’s just really sad that what I was dealing with came from within my own family. I was never bullied in school, I was the bully. I was always picking fights, getting suspended and just lashing out everywhere.”
INTERVIEWER: “So what happened?”
[Serenity hesitated and sighed before answering. She didn’t want to say it but she knew she had to let it go.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “My mother. That’s what happened.”
The Incident
Houston, Texas
[The footage supplied by the local news station of Houston, Texas, references the 2020 incident around the Holmes Residence. Various reporters, officers and medical personnel were on the scene in the suburban neighborhood with neighbors standing aside watching the unfortunate scene. Serenity, her little sister, Athena, and her father were being interviewed by police officers and being told the news of their mother’s passing away causing a massive emotional wreck on their lives.]
INTERVIEWER: “Tell us about that day.”
SERENITY HOLMES: “Yeah. My mother committed suicide. She killed herself through drinking too much alcohol. Collapsed, didn’t wake up and I came home from school that day to hear my sister crying and then I saw her body on the kitchen floor next to an empty bottle. I knew it was too late and my dad came home, the police were called, it just turned into the worst day of my life.”
INTERVIEWER: “But there was more than that before that day?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “Yeah, there was a lot more. I was abused by her every day for a long time. It was my own living hell and I was paying for it a lot of times. I think after my mother died, it was a sense of relief but I resented my dad afterwards.”
[There’s a video of Serenity getting frustrated during her training in kickboxing and her father having a stern talking with her from her earlier days. However, the two continue to work together in leading up to the championship fight developing her cardio, her technique and putting a lot of importance on her grappling on the feet and on the mat with transitions, defensive grappling and her Ju-Jitsu.]
INTERVIEWER: “So what made you start to repair the relationship?”
[Serenity laughed and held onto a couch pillow in her lap.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “Yeah, there was a lot more. I was abused by her every day for a long time. It was my own living hell and I was paying for it a lot of times. I think after my mother died, it was a sense of relief but I resented my dad afterwards.”
INTERVIEWER: “Is that why you become a professional wrestler?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “…Yeah.”
The Developmental
Holmes MMA and Wrestling Academy
ANDRE HOLMES: “Okay! Run the ropes!”
[Another video is taken courtesy of the Holmes MMA and Wrestling Academy of Serenity, almost being 18 years old inside the facility’s professional wrestling wing after being developed after years of refurbishing and remodeling. Joining with other young students, Serenity was running inside the practice ring running from ropes to ropes. ]
ANDRE HOLMES: “Rolls, rolls, rolls!”
[The students behind Serenity began doing basic bumps, sideway bumps, quarter rolls, back rolls, and continued their cardio workouts. Andre was outside the ring along with a few other coaches watching their students pushing themselves. ]
INTERVIEWER: “You were the first graduate student of their professional wrestling program.”
SERENITY HOLMES: “Yeah! I worked hard and even in the developmental, I was showing how much work I was putting in. Being a second-generation wrestler, you had to be on your toes. The main excuse is everything gets handed to you and you’ll always be compared to those before you. I had a chip on my shoulder so it pushed me to compete a lot.”
[From a house show for students, Serenity had just won the main championship of the developmental for her fifth time. She stands in the ring in some rundown wrestling gear at 17 years old holding the belt high and the audience of 200 people cheering her. She looks extremely proud of herself and runs around the ring acting like a happy-go-lucky kid who scored the jackpot.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “Those were good memories. Even in my training days, I was miles ahead from the rest. I graduated as “valedictorian” and just showed everyone my potential. Even then, I was still training in MMA which made my style different from everyone else. You had your high-flier, your technician and your powerhouse. No, mine was MMA-Influenced. So even then, it never left me.”
INTERVIEWER: “At 18 years old, most would have gone to college or start off with a trade. You immediately jumped into professional wrestling by signing with a company that your father competed in. Can you tell us your journey from professional wrestling to MMA?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “Let me take you back to 2022.”
The Birth of the 22nd Century Girl
The Pro Wrestling Industry
RING ANNOUNCER: “Introducing your winner and the new Women’s Champion, Serenity Holmes”
SERENITY HOLMES: “In just three matches of my pro career, I won my first championship.”
[Backstage after her monumental win at 18 years old, the production set was surrounded by athletes, and management watching the beaten and sweaty Serenity Holmes walk past the curtains holding a championship belt in her hands. The first person she walks up to is her father who took time to witness her win and her friends all coming together to hug her.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I was so proud of myself. It was easier to make a statement. I was just prepped for this. An industry that expected of me and knew what I could do to win and become a champion at 18 was truly gracious of me. I just shut everyone up who thought I would be handed things but instead, I pushed through but what really made it sweet was I earned my first world championship in a company built on ultraviolence.”
[After suffering through a brutal battle against her rival, Alice Gemini at the time, she received her world championship before the end of 2022. Announced as a teenage world champion, Serenity Holmes, raised the belt in front of a crowd and pushed through it all, making a great accomplishment so early in her career.]
INTERVIEWER: “Becoming a world champion in your rookie year of professional wrestling at 18 years old really put you on the scene, did you feel you were getting better or was it the opposite?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “I think it was the opposite. When you become successful so young, you get an ego. 2022 was a year where I have proven to everyone that I was that girl to watch but in 2023, I had my true meteoric rise and my downfall. I think from 2022, I had been prompted as the next big thing that I fell into the trap of going “Hollywood”. So I just listened to myself and no one else.”
INTERVIEWER: “You said you had a meteoric rise and fall in 2023. What happened that made the drastic change?”
[She sighed.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “The same problem that my mother had. The addiction that passed from mother to daughter. Alcohol.”
Rise and Fall
New York City, New York
TMZ REPORTER: “Serenity Holmes, known for her amazing career in professional wrestling early of 2023, was seen causing a commotion at a local bar in New York City. Witnesses said Serenity snuck in with a fake ID, got drunk and started fights that forced her to be escorted out of the scene. Fortunately, she has been deemed to be physically okay but rest assured this will follow her for the rest of her life!”
[The former viral video resurfaced showed Serenity Holmes on the street side fighting against the security guard as they lifted her to carry her despite her screaming and fighting their grip. Serenity was on the couch listening to the night she barely remembered through the audio on her iPad and stared at the screen with a look of disappointment before putting it down beside her to stare at the crew.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “After everything I did in 2023, that one decision ruined it. I was holding four championships in professional wrestling and then it went up to six. I was making so much success, money, earning sponsorship deals, being featured everywhere. I was just on the rise, man. One choice and I flushed it down the toilet. I became the laughing stock of the industry and now I’m reminded of it by the people who hate me every day.”
[A candid shot of Serenity walking the sidewalk of a local park although reminiscing about the times she had to be facing herself when she was undergoing her alcoholic episodes. She stops by a lake and sits down on a bench looking at the water.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I’ve never hated myself more than I did back then. I just couldn’t bear to see myself be taken down to rock bottom. The worst part about it was I’m the one who brought myself there. I knew things had to change and I felt a part of me was missing.”
INTERVIEWER: “And what was that?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “Being a professional wrestler wasn’t enough. Truth is, I never trained originally to be a professional wrestler. I trained to be a fighter. Retrospectively, I was missing that fire to fight. To be in the cage and just give it my all.”
[She sat upright and the tone in her voice became firm, emulating a sense of confidence that she found when she made her debut in mixed martial arts professionally.]
INTERVIEWER: “What did you do that changed everything from?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “I decided that it was time for me to start a new journey. Enter into a world that I had no idea about. I wanted to be a mixed martial artist.”
The Debut
Quantum MMA
[The footage reveals from the regional MMA promotion, Quantum MMA, and behind the scenes of Serenity Holmes preparing for her debut in the sport. She’s in her locker room sitting on a chair getting her hand wrapped by her team, Andre going over the game plan and Serenity a little nervous but being assured she has what it takes to compete.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I signed up to be a part of this starting promotion called Quantum MMA. I was making the transition to become a pro fighter and I was so excited but so nervous. I’ve never been in an actual fight before so I didn’t know what to expect.”
[After getting her gloves on and shadowboxing, doing some drills, she was making her walk to the cage and she felt the pressure. Her opponent, Lex Collins, a man who was taller, heavier and more experienced would be the one to meet her in the cage as both were ready for the fight of their lives.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “We went in there and fought our hearts out. I made mistakes on the feet and on the ground in the first. He was just faster, able to piece me up and I just kept pushing through. However, in the second round, I caught him with a head kick and I saw how he was rocked. I tried to finish but I couldn’t. Third round, I was so tired ”
[In the third round, her opponent had her wrapped in a Muay Thai clinch against the cage and a brutal right knee uppercut into her chin knocking her out. The fans enjoyed the knockout but her team was worried. The referee checked and after a few moments, she regained consciousness and was helped to her feet to suffer watching Lex getting his hand raised instead of hers.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “My first fight was my first loss. It really hurt me but it grew a fire in me that started where I am now. I didn’t want to be a one hit wonder. I wanted to go all the way so I made the decision to have another fight and get back to the training board.”
[Another video footage is Serenity’s training regimen increasing in terms of striking drills, grappling, strength and conditioning, cardio, the continuous training from head coaches and developing her mixed martials game from a young age but pushing herself everyday.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I didn’t want to quit and stay on professional wrestling forever. I wanted more. I wanted to know what it meant to win in a fight and really show my skills. I called Quantum MMA and said I’m not going anywhere. Give me a fight and ever since I said that, I’ve never looked back. I knew what I wanted to do since my first loss and that’s become a champion in mixed martial arts.
By any means necessary.”
The Streak Begins
Quantum MMA
SERENITY HOLMES: “My next fight was against a BJJ fighter who was 0-2 and I was 0-1. That’s a fight I got to really see how dominant I can be.”
[In the fight footage, Serenity Holmes was fighting a woman named Shay ‘The Shadow” Owens, and all three rounds were delivering a masterclass of striking. In her southpaw stance, she was using her left hook to cause damage, using feints to catch her opponent off guard and although got taken down in the second round, Serenity reversed the scramble to be on top and rain down blows from having her back.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “She gave it her best but I trained so hard for that fight that she couldn’t catch me anywhere. I wanted my first win to be special so I went for the finish.”
[In the third round, Serenity delivered a vicious uppercut that dropped her opponent and flattered her on the mat. Her first win by knockout and she ran across the cage to climb to the top and sit there yelling out in victory. Her team at the cageside celebrating and Serenity pounding her chest.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I realized from my first fight the mistakes I made. I had to learn to fight within my weight class, learn to be patient, time my shots and not rush in. With every fight, I gained experience and more insight on how to fight my fight. That’s when I wanted to fight Mia Stevens, a former title contender to the championship I was gunning for and she was a kickboxer with a lot of fights behind her but that didn’t stop me.”
[The footage from her second fight in the promotion highlighted Serenity Holmes getting a knockdown in the first 20 seconds of the fight then different clips of her out striking Mia Stevens, out grappling her and then the fight ends with her getting her hand raised for the unanimous decision. It transitions back to Serenity Holmes on the couch getting interviewed pretty pleased from strolling down memory lane.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “Two wins back to back, I wanted to challenge for the championship. I wanted to really become a champion and I had the momentum, the marketing, and everything behind me.”
INTERVIEWER: “But then the promotion closed. After that, you were left without the question of how far you could go. How did you deal with that?”
[Serenity nodded.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I had to find another way to compete.”
A New Home
Union Grand Prix
[Back at the Holmes MMA and Wrestling Academy, Serenity’s training never faltered. She continued pushing the limits of her skills and experience, even earning her purple belt in Ju-Jitsu prior to Quantum MMA closing. The fire in her to keep training knowing she wanted to continue her career in MMA and find another promotion to continue her fight.]
INTERVIEWER: “During that time away from MMA, you were still vocal about continuing in the sport. Although you were getting back into professional wrestling, you never stopped your passion. Why?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “I couldn’t let go. It was burning inside me. I couldn’t let that momentum go away.”
INTERVIEWER: “And that’s when you discovered the Union Grand Prix.”
[A video recorded on a vertical mode shows Serenity holding a contract in front of her as she sits in front of a table.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “Hey everyone, I want to announce that I am officially signing my contract to become the newest bantamweight fighter for Union Grand Prix. I’d like to thank Dante Reed for this opportunity and let’s make this official.”
[She places the contract on the table, flips two pages and signs her name on the dotted line. Serenity looks at the camera and smiles.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “It’s official. I’m now a part of the bantamweight division and I’ll be your future bantamweight champion.”
INTERVIEWER: “Knowing you had signed with UGP, you didn’t receive a lot of support as you did when you debuted in professional wrestling. Many believed you wouldn’t even last in the promotion. How was it knowing you’re walking into the biggest MMA promotion and everyone was almost counting you out?”
[She chuckled in the interview.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “Good. Let them doubt. It’ll make my success much sweeter.”
[A series of images flashes with Serenity Holmes’ training in the gym followed by her sitting by a cage smiling into the camera with the UGP logo behind her. Serenity stands up and puts on her gloves before punching down to the camera.]
Unranked
UGP LV: SUPA vs. MEECHAN/UGP: 56: HOLLOWAY vs. HOWARD
MIKE DEMPSEY: “…Making her official Union GP debut, she is the “22nd Century Girl” Serenity Holmes!”
SERENITY HOLMES: “Hearing that made me ready to fight Tatiana Ruiz. We were both making our debuts and I remember how pissed I was because she missed weight. I don’t take too kindly to that so I wanted to really beat her down.”
[The highlights from UGP LV in her debut fight, plus being the second fight of the early prelims, the first round she dominated with her footwork, moving in and out of range, defending multiple takedowns and making Tatiana pay for it. The second round, Serenity caught her with a vicious head kick that dazed her and she pounced on the groggy Ruiz with a flurry of punches dropping her opponent to the mat earning the TKO victory. After that, Serenity ran around the cage with her team joining her for victory.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “God, I remember that so well. 3-1. I earned another knockout and a performance of the night. Everyone still had their doubts but I earned some respect. However, I just wanted to keep fighting.]
[At UGP 56, Serenity opened the card with another fight against Ronnie Banks. The highlight shows her walking to the cage in a hoodie, throwing shadow strikes and warming up against her second opponent in the promotion.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “Ronnie Banks. Now she was a striker but I know what she was capable of. However, I had to make sure I continued impressing everyone who loved me and hated me.”
[As the fight began, Serenity immediately went into a technical striking battle against Banks. Slipping past her punches, countering with fast-lightning punches and even though caught in a clinch, she used short elbows. In the second round, her technical prowess in her striking and footwork were miles ahead. Constantly using angles and breaking down Ronnie with her striking that the audience in Australia were loving it.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “Ronnie was tough but she couldn’t keep up with my pacing. I knew by the third round I had an opening and I took it.”
[In the third round near the end, Serenity Holmes fired a head kick from the southpaw stance that knocked Ronnie to sleep. The crowd erupted in a roar from the brutal knockout and Serenity roared in her victory to be joined along her coaches and team-mates.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “That was a knockout I loved but my third fight set the tone.”
Mid-Year KO
UGP 57: SUPA vs. MORUGA
INTERVIEWER: “This is a fight a lot of people reference in your MMA career. Why is that?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “It’s the fight that made everyone say: “She’s going to be a problem for the bantamweight division.” It’s the fight that puts everyone on notice.”
[The CDMX Arena were happy to support Serenity Holmes on her walk to the cage. Something in the air was different when she was facing Emma Hunt. The camera, locked on her every move, showed a new focus of aggression and fire with her team behind her. Another highlight shows her sidestepping around the cage and then standing in her corner directly facing Emma Hunt who was hopping up and down warming up.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “That night. If I had to describe what I did in one word: brutality.”
[After the referee declared the fight motion, Serenity Holmes in slow-motion candid shots of her highlights landing fast-paced punches onto Emma that began to cut her above her eye. The clear view of blood and sweat from the crimson mask on her face where her team was concerned about her well being, the commentators trying to understand the aggression Serenity’s never showed until now. Serenity not letting up and being bloodthirsty to continue the fight.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “She survived the first round. It was so bad how I beat her that the crowd was cheering for her tenacity. She was tough and she could stay in there but I needed to really make an impact because I was tired of being unranked. I wanted to break into the top 10 and I did it the only way I knew how.”
[The second round began and a stop-motion flash of the edited highlights portrayed Serenity sprinting from her corner and leaping high in the wait for the Flying Knee Strike that collides into Emma Hunt’s face knocking her unconscious. Serenity landed on her feet, the entire crowd in the CDMX Arena standing up to cheer, the commentary team shocked and Serenity marching around roaring.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “That knockout made everyone change their mind. It made everyone look at me as when is she going to get a ranked fighter? I wanted to break into the top 10 and there was one woman I had my eye on.”
INTERVIEWER: “Who?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “Syn Saetang.”
The Test
UGP 59: SUPA vs. MARSHALL
INTERVIEWER: “This was described as your most controversial fight. Many believed Syn Saetang should have won but the split decision was given to you by the judges. Syn herself has voiced she wasn’t happy about it but the respect was there. Can you tell us from your perspective what happened?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “I got a taste of humility.”
[After the first round of fighting Syn, the camera shows Serenity Holmes sitting down on the stool of her corner. She looks battered and a little surprised from how fast, strong and conditioned Syn was. Andre, the head coach, squatted before her and continued the game plan.]
ANDRE HOLMES: “You’re fighting her fight! She’s faster and very technical in the fight with her Muay Thai. Don’t stand in front of her, cut angles and level change when she has the high guard!”
SERENITY HOLMES: “I walked into this fight on a three fight finish streak and wanted to be in the top 10 so fast. I called out Syn who was ranked number seven at the time. I studied her fights, I watched her carefully, we had a gameplan and I made the mistake of underestimating her.”
[Serenity was suffering from combinations and almost getting rocked after Syn switched to the southpaw stance. The cageside camera showed Andre screaming at the top of her lungs for a level change and Serenity did with a high-level takedown that didn’t last long. As the round ended with Syn landing elbows from above, Serenity sat on the stool looking flustered and Andre squatted down slapping her face to get her back in the fight.]
ANDRE HOLMES: “YOU ARE ALMOST GOING TO LOSE THIS FIGHT! YOU NEED TO WAKE UP AND GET BACK INTO IT! IT’S THE THIRD ROUND! DO YOU WANT TO BE RANKED?! GET OUT THERE AND FIGHT YOUR HEART OUT!”
[Once the third round commended, Serenity fought and gave it all. Syn and Serenity were trading blows, Serenity landed a short elbow that cut Syn open, Syn almost caught her with a head kick and the fight came with both of them tired. When standing together held by the referee, the decision was announced.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Judge Dalton scores the contest, 30-27, Saetang! Judge Keller scores the contest, 29-28, Holmes! And Judge Allen scores the contest 29-28 for your winner by split decision…”22nd Century Girl” Serenity Holmes!”
The Test
UGP 59: Supa vs. Marshall
INTERVIEWER: “This was described as your most controversial fight. Many believed Syn Saetang should have won but the split decision was given to you by the judges. Syn herself has voiced she wasn’t happy about it but the respect was there. Can you tell us from your perspective what happened?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “I got a taste of humility.”
[After the first round of fighting Syn, the camera shows Serenity Holmes sitting down on the stool of her corner. She looks battered and a little surprised from how fast, strong and conditioned Syn was. Andre, the head coach, squatted before her and continued the game plan.]
ANDRE HOLMES: “You’re fighting her fight! She’s faster and very technical in the fight with her Muay Thai. Don’t stand in front of her, cut angles and level change when she has the high guard!”
SERENITY HOLMES: “I walked into this fight on a three fight finish streak and wanted to be in the top 10 so fast. I called out Syn who was ranked number seven at the time. I studied her fights, I watched her carefully, we had a gameplan and I made the mistake of underestimating her.”
[Serenity was suffering from combinations and almost getting rocked after Syn switched to the southpaw stance. The cageside camera showed Andre screaming at the top of her lungs for a level change and Serenity did with a high-level takedown that didn’t last long. As the round ended with Syn landing elbows from above, Serenity sat on the stool looking flustered and Andre squatted down slapping her face to get her back in the fight.]
ANDRE HOLMES: “YOU ARE ALMOST GOING TO LOSE THIS FIGHT! YOU NEED TO WAKE UP AND GET BACK INTO IT! IT’S THE THIRD ROUND! DO YOU WANT TO BE RANKED?! GET OUT THERE AND FIGHT YOUR HEART OUT!”
[Once the third round commended, Serenity fought and gave it all. Syn and Serenity were trading blows, Serenity landed a short elbow that cut Syn open, Syn almost caught her with a head kick and the fight came with both of them tired. When standing together held by the referee, the decision was announced.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Judge Dalton scores the contest, 30-27, Saetang! Judge Keller scores the contest, 29-28, Holmes! And Judge Allen scores the contest 29-28 for your winner by split decision…”22nd Century Girl” Serenity Holmes!”
Prospect of the Year
UGP 61: MEYERS vs. HARRIS II
SERENITY HOLMES: “I did enough to convince the judges to give me the win yet in my test, I let down myself and my team. I gave people an excuse to doubt me because of the controversial split decision. That night was supposed to help me but it backfired and left more questions than answers.”
[In the locker room after the fight with Saetang, Serenity sat on the bench nursing the bruises on her face and her leg. She looked exhausted, flustered and almost given a shock of reality. Her team is happy for the win but she isn’t. Serenity stands up and throws the water bottle against the wall causing the room to be silent as she storms out.]
INTERVIEWER: “You weren’t too happy about the outcome. How did you recover?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “I had four wins so far but that put me as the 9th-ranked bantamweight made people question me more. There had to be a way to certify myself and honestly, I just needed one more but I had to do it in a dominant fashion. When I fought Ciaran Callahan, a wrestler who was on a five-fight win streak, I said to myself, “I’m going to embarrass him.”
[After finding a renewed sense of urgency and training different for her fight against Callahan, the montage of her technical striking from southpaw learning how to use her footwork and range with kicks to the body and legs to avoid being taken down. At cageside, her coaches were happy with her following the game plan that through the rounds, Serenity danced around him, pierced him from afar and stuffed plus avoided every takedown attempt.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “He couldn’t outstrike me. I’ve had problems facing wrestlers so this win against him meant a lot to me because it not only boosted me in the rankings but I earned prospect of the year for 2024.”
[Back at her family home joined by her team, family and coaches, a party had been thrown inside her family’s kitchen and dining area celebrating Serenity being named Prospect of the Year for 2024. Everyone was happy about the news, wonderful times and she was there being the center of attention. More video shots of her just having a blast with the people she loved from her camp.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I earned it. There was no other prospect who earned it but me. And after the split decision, to see how the fans really saw my success, it was great.”
INTERVIEWER: “So what was next after that?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “I needed to become number one contender.”
Number One Contender
UGP 64: SOKOLOV vs. MOMO’A
INTERVIEWER: “At this pay-per-view, you were the featured undercard fight coming in as the Prospect of 2024 and the number four ranked bantamweight against former Everest MMA Strawweight Champion and bantamweight championship title challenger, number two ranked, Eugenie Bombelles. What did you change from your last fight against Syn Saetang similar to being tested against Eugenie to earn your title shot?”
SERENITY HOLMES: “I said it before and I’ll say it again. Everything.”
[A slow motion of Serenity climbing up the stairs to enter into the cage and stand in her corner staring across from Eugenie. The audience loved every second of the tension before the referee started the fight.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I didn’t walk into that fight with an ego or overconfidence. I came with a goal and a gameplan. I knew beating Eugenie would put me in title contention but I had to really solidify myself after I called her out. It was this time when my name was being thrown in the mix for people to challenge Victoria. I had to win to send a message to the champion and in our training, we realized we could do something Victoria never had the chance to do.”
[In the third round, Serenity’s rear naked choke was locked in and a tap from Eugenie had the audience exploding in the cheers. The young athlete stood up and ran to the cage to climb to the top and sit on it pounding her chest with her fist. She looked into the camera and screamed out loud.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “GIVE ME THAT BELT! GIVE ME THAT F**KING BELT!!!”
[Returning back to Serenity on the couch, her fists balled.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I couldn’t think of any better way to make Victoria Marshall fully focused on me. I remember she said that it’s the contender’s job to call you out. Well, I did my job. I did what you should have done. The woman who knocked you out twice, and almost beat you in your third fight going five rounds, I finished her in just three.”
[After leaving the cage, Serenity walked to the back giving fans high fives and celebrating the victory with her team. The smile on her face after calling out Victoria Marshall was certain she knew she would get the title opportunity she long craved for.]
INTERVIEWER: “After six fights undefeated, and now you’re the number one contender, are you ready?”
Training Day
Holmes MMA and Wrestling Academy
SERENITY HOLMES: “I’ve waited and worked for this my entire life. I’m not ready. I’m going to win.”
[A clip of Serenity Holmes at her camp hardening herself with striking drills of Kickboxing and Muay Thai on the pads, punching bag and sparring against other fighters.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I don’t care what anybody else has to say. I earned my shot and I’m going to be the one to beat Victoria Marshall.
[Another clip of Serenity doing her strength and conditioning. Different flashes of her muscle lifting exercises followed by cardio programs where her coaches are pushing her to work hard.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I have the best camp behind me, the best coaches and the best fighters. I’m not training to be a kickboxer or a jiu-jitsu. I’m training to be a mixed martial artist. I can strike on the feet.”
[Flash of Serenity’s consistent striking prowess using her punches, kicks, elbows and knees along with her footwork being slick from close combat to long range.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I can fight in the clinch.”
[Another clip of Serenity grappling with underhooks, Muay Thai, and body locks. She’s also using short punches, elbows and knees whenever there’s an opening on the pads and in sparring.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “And of course, I’ve improved so much in my wrestling and jiu-jitsu that it’s going to give her a shock when she learns she’s not going to maul me. I can fight on the ground but I’m super ready for our game plan too.”
[Serenity rolls around with different fighters and goes up against her team-mates, Robin Kelson and Jordan Parker-Kane, who are both grappling specialists. She’s learning better transitions, escapes, how to be patient and feint her opponent, submissions and continuously defensive grappling more to takedown defense.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “Five rounds? Sure. Why not make it six or seven? Hell, I’m ready for every damn aspect of this fight but it’s much more than being technical. I know why I can beat Victoria because she’s become a tough, strong champion who won’t stop until she wins. Everyone is beatable, yes. Victoria has been an amazing fighter and a well-respected champion but I don’t fear her at all.”
The Calm Before the Storm
Miami, Florida
[The promotional package shows Serenity Holmes walking through the hallways of the Kaseya Center in the backstage area wearing a black leather jacket, a blank tank top, baggy pants and high heels in her strut to the cage. She’s wearing dark shades, her hair curly and let down, and keeping that confidence in her walk knowing she will fight to become a champion.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “They told me I wouldn’t be here. They said everything they could to distract me. We’ve seen champions come and go, critics make their stupid predictions and even haters showing up to gyms after getting kicked out of their own. Critics guessing I’m just a professional wrestlers, fighters who had their shot complain and others thinking they deserve where I’m at. Guess what? I’m here to make history.”
[Another clip of Serenity’s past victories as she continues to walk to the entrance into the arena where the cage is awaiting for her to enter. Flashes of her finishes over Tatiana Ruiz, Ronnie Banks and Emma Hunt along with her recent finish, Eugenie Bombelles, intensifies with her victory celebrations.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “Victoria is a champion who keeps coming forward. She never shows any sign of being hurt or breaks. Her mentality is iron-shaped, soft spoken and hard hitting. She’s a two-time champion from Everest and Union Grand Prix. No one has been able to stop her 14-fight streak of mauling and dominating. No one until me”
[Clips of Serenity’s training in the gym through her sparring, bag work and drills plays from her camp.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I am not bringing a fight, I’m bringing change. I’m bringing everything to shut everyone up and when I raise my hand for victory, every person who said this would never happen will have no choice but to respect me.
[The last shot is Serenity entering into the cage through her casual clothing but when she passes through the door, she’s in her red gear, gloves on, hair tired and gritting her teeth on her mouthguard that says HOLMES.]
SERENITY HOLMES: “I am many things. A kid, a professional wrestler, a mixed martial artist, an athlete, a competitor. But the one thing that’s always been consistent is champion and I will walk out of Miami, Florida, the new bantamweight champion of the world!”
