Two of the most fearsome female martial artists in the world are set to face off in six weeks, and a new UFC promo video takes a poignant look at how each of them got to where they are today.
The dialogue-free commercial traces the parallel origin stories of MMA superstars Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm through a montage of milestones in their fighting careers -- some happy, some sad but all seemingly important strides towards their eventual champion status.
The video touches on their families, their childhood and the obstacles in the path of their male-dominated careers before ending on a scene of the two fighters meeting in the ring for the first time in Melbourne on November 14.
An 11-year-old Rousey -- played by none other than her younger sister, 17-year-old Julia De Mars -- stares into the window of a judo studio for the first time with a spellbound look. In another moment, she sits defiantly in the principal's office as she is sent home for beating up a boy and later proudly holds up an Olympic medal before a glimpse of mixed martial arts piques her interest.
Meanwhile, a 16-year-old Holm idly jabs at a punching bag in her aerobics gym with a look of clear satisfaction. Next you know, she is madly socking away at the punching bag and then panting, bloodied and dazed, in the corner of a ring.
Their blockbuster match is expected to draw the biggest crowds in the sport's history. Rousey, who famously pinned her last high-profile opponent in just 34 seconds, promises a "much longer" fight this time around.