Career Averages - Kevin Holland
Career Averages - Michał Oleksiejczuk
Kevin Holland - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 56 of 91 | 61% | 137 of 176 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 2 | 0 | 4:05 |
| Randy Brown | 0 | 46 of 95 | 48% | 67 of 121 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:43 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 20 of 34 | 58% | 48 of 62 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:41 |
| Randy Brown | 0 | 18 of 39 | 46% | 23 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 19 of 31 | 61% | 25 of 37 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 2 | 0 | 1:42 |
| Randy Brown | 0 | 14 of 26 | 53% | 19 of 32 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 | |
| 3 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 17 of 26 | 65% | 64 of 77 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:42 |
| Randy Brown | 0 | 14 of 30 | 46% | 25 of 43 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:25 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 56 of 91 | 61% | 24 of 55 | 10 of 11 | 22 of 25 | 39 of 68 | 11 of 15 | 6 of 8 |
| Randy Brown | 46 of 95 | 48% | 25 of 65 | 14 of 17 | 7 of 13 | 31 of 75 | 12 of 17 | 3 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 20 of 34 | 58% | 9 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 13 | 14 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 8 |
| Randy Brown | 18 of 39 | 46% | 8 of 26 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 8 | 14 of 35 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 3 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 19 of 31 | 61% | 6 of 18 | 4 of 4 | 9 of 9 | 16 of 27 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Randy Brown | 14 of 26 | 53% | 8 of 15 | 5 of 8 | 1 of 3 | 10 of 21 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Kevin Holland | 17 of 26 | 65% | 9 of 17 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 9 of 15 | 8 of 11 | 0 of 0 |
| Randy Brown | 14 of 30 | 46% | 9 of 24 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 7 of 19 | 7 of 11 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Randy Brown, expressing frustration with Kevin Holland's unreliability and lack of care. He believes Brown is better everywhere, more serious, and has more power. He ends the cycle of picking Holland with caveats, stating Brown is the clear choice.
Big Brady is done with Kevin Holland due to his poor fight IQ and inconsistency. He thinks Randy Brown is the more skilled striker and will outstrike Holland, but worries about Brown's chin (recent KO losses). He expects a striking match and picks Brown by decision, but will not bet on the fight.
Cody also picks Brown, noting Holland's one-foot-in-one-foot-out mentality and Brown's speed advantage. He thinks Brown's desire and game plan will edge out a close fight.
Connor picks Randy Brown because Kevin Holland is cooked and doesn't care about fighting anymore. He notes that Holland is a goofy, messy fighter who doesn't want to do the right things, while Brown is capable of impressive performances despite occasional dumb mistakes. He expects a fun fight but trusts Brown's ability to outwork Holland.
Daniel is on the 'Fade Kevin Holland' tour, citing Holland's poor mentality and fight IQ. He thinks Brown will care more and perform better under less pressure.
Daniel Vreeland picks Randy Brown as part of the 'fade Kevin Holland world tour.' He believes Holland lacks motivation and fight IQ, while Brown is more focused and has the tools to outpoint him. He notes that Brown's jab and technical striking should be enough to win a decision or even get a finish.
James picks Kevin Holland, believing he has more power and durability, and will come on as the fight progresses. He notes Brown may start well but expects Holland to find his rhythm.
Brown is the better technical striker with a huge reach advantage. Holland's ego may lead him to strike with Brown, which is a mistake. Brown can pick Holland apart from distance and has good defensive grappling to avoid Holland's submissions. Holland's recent losses show he struggles against disciplined strikers. Brown should win a decision or even get a finish.
Paul picks Brown, citing Holland's declining desire and Brown's speed and crisp striking. He thinks Brown's jab and right hand will be effective against the similar-framed Holland.
The MMA Guru picks Randy Brown over Kevin Holland. He thinks Brown will fight on the outside with low kicks and body shots, while Holland is an opportunist who doesn't follow game plans. He notes Brown's chin is suspect but believes he can win a 29-28 decision, possibly with Holland taking a close round.
Zane picks Randy Brown, agreeing that Kevin Holland is cooked and doesn't care about fighting. He notes that Holland is a mercenary who fights for money and has no goal other than getting paid, while Brown is more focused and capable. He expects a fun fight but trusts Brown to win.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 52 of 137 | 37% | 76 of 162 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Mike Malott | 0 | 49 of 95 | 51% | 50 of 99 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 | 1 | 2:31 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 9 of 31 | 29% | 22 of 45 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Mike Malott | 0 | 12 of 29 | 41% | 13 of 33 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 0:30 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 23 of 70 | 32% | 23 of 70 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Mike Malott | 0 | 26 of 42 | 61% | 26 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 20 of 36 | 55% | 31 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Mike Malott | 0 | 11 of 24 | 45% | 11 of 24 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 2:01 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 52 of 137 | 37% | 23 of 96 | 9 of 13 | 20 of 28 | 49 of 127 | 3 of 9 | 0 of 1 |
| Mike Malott | 49 of 95 | 51% | 35 of 73 | 10 of 15 | 4 of 7 | 44 of 88 | 1 of 3 | 4 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 9 of 31 | 29% | 3 of 22 | 3 of 5 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 26 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 1 |
| Mike Malott | 12 of 29 | 41% | 8 of 20 | 1 of 3 | 3 of 6 | 11 of 28 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 23 of 70 | 32% | 12 of 55 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 11 | 22 of 68 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Mike Malott | 26 of 42 | 61% | 17 of 32 | 8 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 26 of 42 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Kevin Holland | 20 of 36 | 55% | 8 of 19 | 3 of 4 | 9 of 13 | 19 of 33 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Mike Malott | 11 of 24 | 45% | 10 of 21 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 18 | 0 of 2 | 4 of 4 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Malott (-115); Holland (+100)
Round 1
The co-main event comes in the form of what should be an all-action welterweight affair that could have a little something for everybody. The fan-favorite Holland (28-14, 1 NC; 15-11, 1 NC UFC) will have to be the villain tonight as he goes into hostile territory to take on the last Canadian-born fighter on the night in Malott (12-2-1, 5-1 UFC). The two will hunt for bonus cash—and there is steep competition tonight—while regionally unpopular referee Dan Miragliotta watches on. Holland tries fairly hard to get a glove touch, but the Canadian wants nothing to do with it.
Holland puts his hand down and his foot up, to start kicking Malott in the lead leg. Malott is struggling to get in on the longer Holland, so Holland can pepper his front leg on either side without worrying about something coming back. When Malott responds with his own leg kick, Holland hops and swats out a left hand. The two appear to clash heads when coming at one another, and Malott unloads with a short combination before Holland can reach him. Malott fires off a body kick, and Holland knocks him off his feet with a fierce right hand. Holland considers slamming down high-amplitude hammerfists, and he leaps on top and delivers some damage. Holland stands back up and starts punching the Canadian in the thigh. Malott hits a sneaky sweep to put Holland on his seat.
Holland fights his way back up, and when Malott tries for a mat return, Holland bends like a reed in the wind and rolls all the way through the takedown attempt to end up on top. The welterweights scramble back to their feet, and clashing kicks leads to Malott inadvertently kicking Holland in the groin. Miragliotta calls time, and Holland laughs it off and is good to go within 20 seconds. They resume, and Holland appears fine, as he reaches Malott and knocks him back with a clean left hand. “Trailblazer” leaps at his man with a right hand, and he keeps his balance when Malott wraps him up to drag him down. When they tie up, Malott drills him in the groin with a knee, and Holland is not so jovial about it as he collapses to his knees.
Miragliotta tells the replay officials that he could hear the impact of the second groin strike, and he tells Malott that he knows that it was an accident but reminds him that it was two infractions already and the second appears to have clearly compromised the Texan. Holland gets to his knees but is still clutching his groin, and he reaches in to try to adjust himself and nearly exposes himself on camera. The replay officials appear to be confused, even though it is clear on the video that there was contact on the cup. Holland tries to stand after two-and-a-half minutes, and he is frustrated that the crowd is booing him and pulls himself up to his feet all while shaking his head repeatedly. Miragliotta tells Holland to take as much time as he needs, which is a smidge over a minute remaining. Miragliotta gives Malott a stern warning for the second groin shot, with no point deduction as commentator Daniel Cormier laments there is no consistency in regards to officiating these days with a fighter earlier losing a point from the first foul. Holland tries as hard as he can to shake off the injury, and he tells Miragliotta he is good to go 15 seconds later than stoppage time.
He is still in serious pain, and he takes more time to tap gloves with Malott and backpedals. Holland still adjusts his cup while dodging swings aimed at his head, and Malott allows him to recover even longer before going at him with a right hand and a head kick that are out of range. Holland gets up close to deliver an uppercut, and he bounces back in pain. Holland walks off before time elapses, and Malott throws his hands in the air out of frustration. The round ends with Holland suffering greatly, and it’s anyone’s guess what will happen between rounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Malott
Round 2
Miragliotta calls in the doctor between rounds to check on Holland, who has not yet recovered. The doctor tells Holland that he will have to stop the fight if Holland cannot keep going, and again confusion and chaos is about as they are trying to ask him if he is able to continue. Holland doesn’t say yes or no, and instead grimaces in pain and adjusts himself. As he waits, eventually someone signals that he can keep going and that he cannot keep taking more time. The minute break may have been doubled based on that. Holland flashes his jab to keep his range and not let the Canadian to get him as he still tries to bounce around and relieve the pressure. Malott tosses out a half-hearted front kick, and Holland responds with a heavier one. Malott opens up with a flurry of fists, and Holland shoulder rolls them and takes a body kick. He keeps being his jab, and wings a clubbing right that is easily blocked, unable to put much power behind his punches. He ducks a takedown attempt and scoops a left around the guard to surprise his opponent. Holland swats out with lefts, and Malott tags him with a right hand. Malott’s front kick reaches the target of the jaw, and the replies from “Trailblazer” are a front kick and one to the calf.
The Texan narrowly avoids a left hand and pitches out a side kick, and they crack one another with simultaneous right hands. Holland slips back, and a front kick brushes the top of Malott’s shorts. Holland takes a heavy left hand and gathers his thoughts, sticking Malott with a low kick and a front kick. Holland sits down on a crisp right hand, and Malott walks through it. Holland adjusts his athletic support that is still bothering him, and a clinch leads to nowhere so they split up. Malott walks Holland down and decks him with several punches and a knee, and Holland rebounds off the fencing and fires back with a right hand to keep Malott honest. Holland tries for a one-two, and he is intercepted on the way out. Holland bloodies the Canadian’s nose with a jab and an uppercut that follows, and Malott tries to drive him back with a front kick but is elbowed for his handiwork. The round ends with Malott’s nose positively gushing blood.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malott
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Malott
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Malott
Round 3
Holland is still messed up from the groin shots, and tells Malott to keep things clean. They get down to it, with scores possibly two up for Malott or all tied up. Malott jabs the body with his toes outstretched, and Holland chips at his front leg a few times before darting him behind two left hands. Malott counters him up top, and lets Holland throw a kick to go for a big left hand. Holland re-opens Malott’s nose with jabs, and Malott takes a deep breath and blitzes forward. Holland keeps himself largely clear of danger, although the Canadian catches him with a few strikes. Holland’s own offense bounds off the guard, other than a stomping kick to the knee that briefly hyperextends it. Malott reaches out with a push kick to the upper chest, and Holland’s response is to the calf. Holland scores a single right hand and leans back from the obligatory counter, and Malott slides to the side and gets off a side kick and one high. Holland scoots his way forward and eats a few punches.
Holland lands a one-two, and Malott appears to get his attention as Holland bends over and briefly considers a takedown. He bails on it to stand up and further bloody up the Canadian. Malott runs at his opponent and lifts him off the ground, and Holland’s arm goes out of the cage as he apologizes and says he is not grabbing anything but just has long arms. Malott pulls him back inside and down flat on his back, and he smothers “Trailblazer” and bashes him with right hands. Holland uses upkicks and butterfly hooks to frame off, only for Malott to slice through and climb into half guard with 60 seconds remaining. Malott threatens with an arm-triangle choke, stepping over to full mount and then to the side to complete the submission. The ultra-slippery Holland reverse-somersaults to somehow get out of the submission, and he worms his way back to his feet with Malott right after him. The Canadian bullies him to the wire, and looks for a mat return to wrap things up. Instead, he elbows Holland once, and they shake hands after time expires with no bad blood between them. That was certainly a fight of all time.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malott (29-28 Malott)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Malott (29-28 Malott)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Malott (30-27 Malott)
The Official Result
Mike Malott def. Kevin Holland via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Mike Malott, citing his high fight IQ, technical improvements after the Magny loss, and well-rounded skills. He criticizes Kevin Holland's inconsistency and poor performance against Daniel Rodriguez, calling it an all-time low. He trusts Malott's control and power.
Big Brady has zero trust in Kevin Holland after his loss to Daniel Rodriguez, calling him a dumbass and declining. He questions Malott's durability and cardio but picks him by default. He predicts Malott takes Holland down and submits him, noting Holland's ground game stinks.
Cody picks Malott, citing Kevin Holland's recent durability issues and high fight frequency. He notes Holland was knocked down twice by Daniel Rodriguez, a sign of declining chin. Malott has a wrestling advantage and can mix takedowns with striking. Cody believes Malott will win by decision or late stoppage, especially with home crowd support.
Connor picks Malott, emphasizing that Holland cannot be trusted to fight disciplined. He notes that Malott is proficient and consistent, with sharp boxing in the pocket. Connor points out that Holland's approach of 'having fun' leads to messy fights, and his chin may be deteriorating after getting hurt by Daniel Rodriguez. He believes Malott can outwork Holland.
James admits he has a poor track record betting on Malott fights but picks Malott due to his skill set and potential improvements after the Neil Magny loss. He questions Kevin Holland's recent form and durability, noting Holland's poor performance against Daniel Rodriguez. James expects a slow-paced fight and predicts Malott via decision, though he is not confident.
The host thinks this is a tough stylistic matchup for Malott. He believes Holland can pick Malott apart from distance with his speed, range, and distance work, and will eventually find a big shot to put Malott away.
Paul picks Holland, arguing that the D-Rod fight was on short notice and Holland has had three months to prepare. He believes Holland's length and reach advantage will be key, and that Malott may gas as he did against Magny. Paul sees value in Holland as a dog and plans to bet him.
The MMA Guru picks Mike Malott over Kevin Holland. He notes Malott's submission skills and takedowns, and his game plan against Neil Magny. He criticizes Holland's inconsistency and chin issues. He predicts Malott will chew at the leg, get takedowns, and finish by arm triangle submission in round two.
Zane picks Malott, citing his composure, defensive soundness, and ability to pick targets. He notes that Malott can outwrestle Holland and kick his legs. Zane is concerned about Holland's inconsistency and recent poor performance against Daniel Rodriguez, where Holland made terrible errors and got hurt. He believes Malott will fight a smart fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Rodriguez | 1 | 82 of 173 | 47% | 111 of 207 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 2:07 |
| Kevin Holland | 2 | 77 of 149 | 51% | 111 of 189 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:34 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Rodriguez | 0 | 40 of 83 | 48% | 40 of 83 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 29 of 60 | 48% | 32 of 63 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Daniel Rodriguez | 0 | 12 of 28 | 42% | 34 of 51 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:05 |
| Kevin Holland | 2 | 31 of 55 | 56% | 44 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:40 | |
| 3 | Daniel Rodriguez | 1 | 30 of 62 | 48% | 37 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:50 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 17 of 34 | 50% | 35 of 53 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:54 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Rodriguez | 82 of 173 | 47% | 53 of 126 | 13 of 22 | 16 of 25 | 60 of 137 | 17 of 27 | 5 of 9 |
| Kevin Holland | 77 of 149 | 51% | 49 of 106 | 13 of 26 | 15 of 17 | 54 of 107 | 6 of 7 | 17 of 35 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Rodriguez | 40 of 83 | 48% | 20 of 50 | 6 of 12 | 14 of 21 | 39 of 81 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 29 of 60 | 48% | 12 of 30 | 8 of 19 | 9 of 11 | 28 of 59 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Daniel Rodriguez | 12 of 28 | 42% | 8 of 21 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 3 | 7 of 21 | 4 of 6 | 1 of 1 |
| Kevin Holland | 31 of 55 | 56% | 27 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 3 | 12 of 22 | 5 of 6 | 14 of 27 | |
| 3 | Daniel Rodriguez | 30 of 62 | 48% | 25 of 55 | 4 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 35 | 12 of 19 | 4 of 8 |
| Kevin Holland | 17 of 34 | 50% | 10 of 25 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 14 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 8 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Holland (-395), Rodriguez (+310)
Round 1
The busiest athlete in the company these days, Holland (28-13, 1 NC; 15-10, 1 NC UFC) is entering into his fourth fight of the year in the middle of July. Looking for his third win in a row, he tangles with 10th Planet rep Rodriguez (19-5, 9-4 UFC), who is also doing the same. One of their streaks must end in the next three rounds or fewer, and referee Mike Beltran will be the first to know. Possibly a victory or two from reaching the top 10, the welterweights bump fists knowing this could be the start of something significant.
Holland immediately starts talking, asking Rodriguez if he is a winner. Rodriguez ignores him and comes out swinging, hurling his left hook several times at “Trailblazer.” Holland springs out of the way and circles away to not get caught with anything noteworthy, and he stays on the outside slamming kicks to Rodriguez’ front leg. Rodriguez blitzes his opponent, and Holland grabs hold of him and turns him around in the clinch. Rodriguez breaks free, and once again he is faced with the taller, longer man reaching his kicks at him. The two get tied up again, and they both let hands fly for a moment. Rodriguez reaches with his left, and he parries a head kick that comes up in a hurry. Holland jabs the body with the ball of his foot, and Rodriguez retaliates with a chopping calf kick. Rodriguez lands a low kick, and Holland recoils his limb and wings it back at his foe. Both fighters attack the body, and then trade low kicks.
Holland tags his foe at the end of a right hand and a quick left, which sets up three more punches over the top. Holland clips Rodriguez with an overhand right, and a foul is ignored as both men just want to trade. Holland turns his hips and busts Rodriguez in the chops with a side kick, and he is quick to have to defend an oncoming Rodriguez who throws hard at him. Both fighters appear to graze the cup with kicks, and Holland rolls with a combo and dings Rodriguez with a right hand on the forehead. The Californian grits his teeth and connects with a left hook that destabilizes his opponent. Holland gets up and rushes backwards to the fence to recover, doing so long enough to get his bearings again. When he reengages, Holland takes a jab on the chin and still manages to get Rodriguez with an elbow. Rodriguez lands a big left, and Holland chains several punches together to get him back. Rodriguez puts hands on the Texan once more, and he blocks a head kick in the nick of time. Two more kicks to the body from “Trailblazer” wrap up the first round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Round 2
The welterweights touch gloves to get started in the second stanza, and Rodriguez aims to the front leg first as Holland tries to check it. Holland defends a combination of punches by trying to tie Rodriguez up, and Rodriguez is able to shuck him off and punch him square in the face. Rodriguez measures a big left hand that rocks “Trailblazer,” who goes down in a heap. Rodriguez jumps on top of his wounded opponent, laying into him with ground-and-pound until he advances to side control. Rather than do anything further on the mat, Rodriguez backs off and makes Holland stand. Holland is quick to shoot for a double, and Rodriguez tosses him aside and bludgeons him with more big hammers. “D-Rod” knocks Holland to his seat a second time, pouncing to get into the guard so he can try to finish the job. Rodriguez passes to half guard, slugging Holland into the face every so often while Holland looks to control the wrist. Holland thinks about a guillotine choke off his back, but Rodriguez punches his way out of it.
Holland tries to isolate an arm for an armbar setup, and Rodriguez breaks out of it and stands. Holland follows him and blasts him in the face with a right hand, only for Rodriguez to tank it and swing back fearlessly. Holland scores hard again with an overhand right, and Rodriguez ignores it and comes back swinging. The Texan ducks under and hits a double, putting Rodriguez flat on his back with about 100 seconds to go. Holland stays tightly pressed on Rodriguez while in half guard, and he attacks the body and head when sitting up. Rodriguez tries to sit up too, and Holland has a trap for him in the form of a slick brabo choke. Rodriguez, the jiu-jitsu practitioner, shakes off the choke but is drilled with a left hand and an elbow. Holland shoots for another takedown, pushing Rodriguez to the fence and falling into a guillotine choke. Holland stands up to get out of it, his face bloodied, and he does not care as he smacks Rodriguez with a jump knee. The round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rodriguez
Round 3
The fighters share a last glove touch and get right to business. Rodriguez floats a low kick, darting away when Holland advances with body shots. Rodriguez swipes his way forward with a left to the liver, and he has a one-two bash Holland on the side of the head. Holland whiffs on a right hand up top and a head kick on the same side, and he sways back as Rodriguez gives chase. Rodriguez blitzes his opponent, clacking heads with his opponent on the way in. Rodriguez goes the body, prompting Holland to go straight at him with fists flying. Rodriguez beats the Texan to the punch, until Holland grits his teeth and knocks Rodriguez clean off his feet with a short but nasty uppercut. Rodriguez survives the ground strikes when hitting the ground to stand back up, and Holland wraps up a standing brabo choke. Rodriguez breaks out of it, and Holland attacks with the fury of a thousand suns. Battering Rodriguez with winging punches, jump knees, mean-spirited uppercuts and anything else he can offer, Holland has Rodriguez on the ropes. Rodriguez throws back with bad intentions, and Holland’s knee rocks him to his core.
A desperate Rodriguez tries to take the fight down, and Holland hurls him to his knees and is quick to force a back take. Holland wraps up a rear-naked choke but it is around the side, and Rodriguez is able to slide out of it and push past a triangle choke. Holland uses a high guard to hold on with a triangle choke that is more of a high guard than anything, and Rodriguez grabs the fence to get out of it. Beltran slaps his hands out of the cage grab, and Rodriguez advances to side control and then full mount with a minute to go. Rodriguez starts raining down a bombardment of punches, with Holland pushing off the cage wall with his feet while shelling up to guard his face. Holland rolls all the way over and shoots for a takedown of his own, and Rodriguez defends with a power guillotine choke and pushes Holland over to his back. “D-Rod” reassumes full mount after releasing the choke, sitting up to smack Holland around until time expires. This could have used two more rounds, as the crowd goes wild after 15 titillating minutes of magnificent melee.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland (29-28 Rodriguez)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Holland (29-28 Rodriguez)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holland (29-28 Rodriguez)
The Official Result
Daniel Rodriguez def. Kevin Holland via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Kevin Holland, citing his speed, power, and accuracy at welterweight. He notes that Daniel Rodriguez is a pure boxer with no takedown threat, so Holland's takedown defense won't be tested. He expects Holland to run through Rodriguez.
Big Brady confidently picks Kevin Holland, noting Rodriguez's age (38), recent poor performances, and lack of wrestling. He believes Holland's height, reach, and power will lead to a first-round knockout. He dismisses Rodriguez's prison fight experience as irrelevant.
Connor picks Holland because he is significantly faster than Rodriguez, who appears slower than ever. He notes that Holland always has a high work rate even in his worst performances, while Rodriguez's recent wins have come against equally old and beatable opponents. He sees this as a straightforward win for Holland.
The host sees this as a great stylistic matchup for Holland, expecting him to pick apart Rodriguez from distance and utilize his speed and stinging power to line up a knockout.
The MMA Guru picks Kevin Holland over Daniel Rodriguez, predicting a decision win. He notes Holland's durability, reach advantage (7 inches), and better cardio, while Rodriguez is described as a scrapper with bad fight IQ. The Guru believes Holland will out-point Rodriguez over three rounds, possibly with a late finish, but expects it to go the distance. He also mentions a prop bet that the fight will last more than 10 minutes.
Zane agrees with Connor, stating that Holland is significantly faster and that Rodriguez's recent performances against older fighters show he is not a threat. He notes that Holland's worst performances still have high work rate, making him a safe pick.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vicente Luque | 0 | 24 of 46 | 52% | 24 of 46 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 40 of 74 | 54% | 44 of 78 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 0:13 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vicente Luque | 0 | 22 of 40 | 55% | 22 of 40 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 35 of 64 | 54% | 39 of 68 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Vicente Luque | 0 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 5 of 10 | 50% | 5 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 0:13 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vicente Luque | 24 of 46 | 52% | 14 of 32 | 3 of 6 | 7 of 8 | 24 of 46 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 40 of 74 | 54% | 25 of 58 | 5 of 6 | 10 of 10 | 26 of 56 | 14 of 18 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vicente Luque | 22 of 40 | 55% | 13 of 28 | 3 of 5 | 6 of 7 | 22 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 35 of 64 | 54% | 23 of 51 | 5 of 6 | 7 of 7 | 21 of 46 | 14 of 18 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Vicente Luque | 2 of 6 | 33% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 5 of 10 | 50% | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | 5 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Holland (-265), Luque (+215)
Round 1
The referee for our main card opener is Keith Peterson. Luque takes the center of the Octagon, while Holland is already talking. Luque catches a kick, but Holland lands a half-dozen punches and makes his opponent pay for just standing there. A left hook from Luque hits the shoulder of Holland. Luque follows up a left hook with a nice leg kick. Holland lands a nice elbow that hurts Luque, who fires back with an overhand that keeps Holland from pressuring. Luque lands a double jab, which isn't enough to keep Holland from talking every second of this fight. There is a huge knot on the side of Luque's head where the elbow landed. It looks nasty. Luque stuns Holland with a left hook, but Holland responds nicely by slipping a punch and landing a right hook. Nice jab to the body by Holland. Luque lands a leg kick, which allows Holland to land a right hand. High kick from Holland is blocked.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Round 2
The round starts with Holland missing a huge right hook. Luque is struggling with the length of Holland, who is able to attack from a distance. Holland catches a kick from Luque and pushes him to the ground. Luque tries to get up, but Holland sinks in a brabo choke. It looks tight, and Luque is forced to tap.
The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Vicente Luque via Submission (Brabo Choke); R2, 1:03.
Angelo picks Vicente Luque over Kevin Holland because he trusts Vicente to execute a game plan, while Kevin is unreliable with poor takedown defense and a lack of care. He notes Kevin's takedown defense is still poor despite his length and jiu-jitsu. He thinks even a fraction of Vicente's wrestling from the Dos Anjos fight will be enough.
Big Brady is very confident in Kevin Holland, citing Luque's recent durability issues and quitting in his last fight. He believes Luque will try to wrestle but Holland is hard to wrestle at welterweight. He expects the fight to stay on the feet where Holland will hurt Luque and knock him out early, possibly in the first round. He notes Luque's brain hemorrhage and that he shouldn't be fighting.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Holland. He emphasizes that Luque has slowed down and his reactions are worse, while Holland is still physically sharp. Connor notes that Holland's best performances come when he is not forced to pressure, and Luque's forward pressure will allow Holland to counter effectively. He sees this as a winnable matchup for Holland.
The host went back and forth on this fight. He ultimately sticks with Kevin Holland winning by knockout due to his speed and power, but notes that Vicente Luque is a very live underdog, especially if he can get takedowns and use his submission game.
The MMA Guru picks Kevin Holland, despite being a big fan of Luque. He believes Holland's range and volume will be key, as Luque struggles against fighters who stay at range and don't overcommit. He notes Holland's durability and ability to fight from bottom. He predicts a decision win for Holland, possibly 29-28, with Luque winning a round.
Zane picks Kevin Holland, noting that when Holland fights on the back foot he uses his jab effectively and looks like a complete boxer. He believes Luque's slower reactions and declining chin will be exploited by Holland's reach and counterpunching. Zane thinks this matchup favors Holland's style, similar to his win over Jack Della Maddalena.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gunnar Nelson | 0 | 15 of 24 | 62% | 30 of 44 | 3 of 10 | 30% | 1 | 0 | 9:29 |
| Kevin Holland | 1 | 55 of 89 | 61% | 138 of 178 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:04 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gunnar Nelson | 0 | 5 of 9 | 55% | 13 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:55 |
| Kevin Holland | 1 | 19 of 37 | 51% | 31 of 51 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:08 | |
| 2 | Gunnar Nelson | 0 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 7 of 11 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 3:22 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 17 of 23 | 73% | 73 of 82 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:29 | |
| 3 | Gunnar Nelson | 0 | 7 of 9 | 77% | 10 of 13 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 | 0 | 3:12 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 19 of 29 | 65% | 34 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gunnar Nelson | 15 of 24 | 62% | 10 of 19 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 7 | 7 of 8 | 6 of 9 |
| Kevin Holland | 55 of 89 | 61% | 30 of 57 | 15 of 20 | 10 of 12 | 15 of 34 | 22 of 27 | 18 of 28 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gunnar Nelson | 5 of 9 | 55% | 3 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 |
| Kevin Holland | 19 of 37 | 51% | 10 of 24 | 3 of 5 | 6 of 8 | 9 of 20 | 4 of 4 | 6 of 13 | |
| 2 | Gunnar Nelson | 3 of 6 | 50% | 1 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 |
| Kevin Holland | 17 of 23 | 73% | 9 of 15 | 6 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 7 | 6 of 7 | 8 of 9 | |
| 3 | Gunnar Nelson | 7 of 9 | 77% | 6 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 5 | 3 of 4 |
| Kevin Holland | 19 of 29 | 65% | 11 of 18 | 6 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 7 | 12 of 16 | 4 of 6 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nelson (-130), Holland (+110)
Round 1
Dan Movahedi will referee Nelson’s first fight since March 2023. Holland opens with a pair of inside leg kicks. Nelson is operating from his usual karate stance. Another leg kick for Holland, who has a significant reach edge. Nelson tries to charge in, but he’s rebuffed by Holland. Holland with a long jab and right hand. Nelson shoots and gets Holland down. Holland is active from his back, threatening with submissions, but Nelson is a savvy grappler. Nelson stands and picks Holland up with one arm and both fighters share a laugh. Nelson goes back to work from above, but he’ll have to navigate his foe’s long limbs. Holland is landing hammerfists from his bck on occasion. Nelson with a solid right from top position. Holland lands an elbow from his back. Nelson is struggling to find openings for offense from above. The Iceland native drops a short elbow. Nelson stands and has to worry about Holland’s upkicks before moving back on top. They stand late in the round, and Holland drops Nelson with a one-two. He hovers over Nelson and drops heavy standing to ground shots. Nelson is saved by the horn, but Holland might've landed one after the buzzer.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Round 2
Holland is aggressive, and he punches his way into the clinch behind an uppercut. Holland with a knee and a foot stomp. They separate and size each other up from range. Holland with a solid inside low kick. Holland is measuring the right hand that dropped Nelson in Round 1. Nelson is working hard for a takedown, but Holland is able to stay upright. Nelson adjusts against the fence, but Holland maintains his footing. Nelson is clinging to the leg, and Holland stays busy with short strikes. Nelson pulls Holland off the fence and drags him to the canvas with about 2:00 to go. Nelson is in top position, but Holland is active again, both with his guard and strikes from his back. Nelson is simply holding position as Holland continues to work from his back. Holland with an upkick as Nelson stands. Nelson works his way back into full guard as the round draws to a close.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Round 3
Holland chips away at the legs of Nelson before they collide in the clinch. Holland lands a knee in close. Nelson counters with uppercuts, but another Holland knee gets through. Nelson decides against continuing to trade offense in the clinch, and he changes levels for a takedown. Nelson moves into full mount with ease. Holland kicks off the fence to remove Nelson from mount, but the grappling ace is still in top position. Holland is warned to remove his toes from the cage. Nelson absorbs a series of heel strikes to to the head. He responds by dropping a right from above. Nelson transitions to an arm triangle during a scramble. He’s close to the cage, but it looks pretty deep. Holland looks comfortable for now, and he’s able to eventually escape to his feet. Holland pushes Nelson into the fence. Nelson is looking at the clock now. Holland with a knee to the midsection. Back at range, Holland connects with a front kick. Nelson closes the distance but eats another knee for his efforts. Holland denies a takedown and the welterweights battle in the clinch. Holland breaks free and falls to his back after missing on a knee before the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Nelson (29-28 Holland)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Nelson (29-28 Holland)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Nelson (29-28 Holland)
The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Gunnar Nelson via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00
Angelo picks Kevin Holland despite his poor takedown defense, arguing that skill-wise Holland is the better fighter. He notes that Holland is likely fighting for his job at welterweight and will be motivated. He criticizes Gunnar Nelson's inactivity (2 years), poor striking differential, and lack of wins over active UFC fighters. He has a small bet on Holland.
Brady is very hesitant but picks Holland, calling it 'One Last Ride'. He notes Nelson is 36, inactive (2 fights in 5 years), has no striking, and is coming off a 2-year layoff. Holland has an astronomical striking advantage and is fighting at welterweight where he belongs. Brady predicts a second-round knockout.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Nelson. He highlights Holland's inability to wrestle seriously and his tendency to fall apart when pressured. Nelson's striking, though limited, will force Holland to close distance, leading to takedowns and submissions. Connor is confident Nelson will look the same despite the layoff.
The host notes Nelson doesn't fight often but still showcases superb jiu-jitsu. He expects Nelson to get a body lock, drag the fight to the ground, find the back, and secure a submission win over Holland.
The Guru confidently picks Gunnar Nelson, citing his superior jiu-jitsu and takedown entries. He expects Nelson to get a takedown, take Holland's back, and secure a rear-naked choke in the first round. He notes that Holland is susceptible to grapplers and has not finished anyone early in a long time. He acknowledges a small chance Holland lands a 45-70 kick but dismisses it.
Zane confidently picks Nelson, arguing that Holland's poor wrestling and tendency to crash forward will play directly into Nelson's strengths. Nelson's karate-style striking and elite ground game will exploit Holland's lack of takedown defense and submission awareness. He expects Holland to either get taken down and submitted or run into Nelson's clinch.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reinier de Ridder | 0 | 11 of 13 | 84% | 27 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 12 of 21 | 57% | 26 of 35 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 3:25 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reinier de Ridder | 0 | 11 of 13 | 84% | 27 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 12 of 21 | 57% | 26 of 35 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 3:25 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reinier de Ridder | 11 of 13 | 84% | 10 of 12 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 10 |
| Kevin Holland | 12 of 21 | 57% | 11 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 21 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reinier de Ridder | 11 of 13 | 84% | 10 of 12 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 10 |
| Kevin Holland | 12 of 21 | 57% | 11 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 21 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: De Ridder (-112), Holland (-108)
Round 1
Striker battles grappler to kick off the main card of UFC 311, although that might be a bit of an overgeneralization considering Holland (26-12, 1 NC; 13-9, 1 NC UFC) has landed some nifty brabo chokes in recent memory. He will come to blows, and/or roll with de Ridder (18-2, 1-0 UFC, who got his feet wet in the UFC last November by outhustling savant submission specialist Gerald Meerschaert and tapping “GM3” out. Whether this fight ends by knockout, submission or something else entirely, referee Frank Trigg will be here for the middleweights every step of the way. There is a touch of gloves to get things going, and de Ridder shoots in for a single immediately. Holland hits his back and wraps a leg around the head of his opponent, setting up a triangle and nearly transitioning it to an armbar. When de Ridder lords over him, Holland drills him with surprisingly effective hammerfists from his back. De Ridder lowers himself down into the guard, thwarting any subs coming his way. De Ridder grinds down with elbows to the chest, with Holland hanging onto the wrists before flailing his legs to get some space. An upkick or two may have gotten de Ridder’s attention, but de Ridder is still on top of him. Holland starts talking to Trigg, mentioning that he took a knee to the head, and he laughs. Holland keeps striking from off his back, and de Ridder elbows him back to shred a mean cut open on his forehead. Holland sways to avoid more ground-and-pound, but the Dutch fighter drew first blood. De Ridder unloads with standing-to-ground punches, pinning Holland to his back and letting Holland scramble so he can take his back. Holland stands up, and de Ridder is on his back, but barely. Holland lowers himself down to put his arms on the mat to take some of the weight off, and he rolls through and is followed. “RDR” fastens the body triangle around the waist and locks down a rear-naked choke, and it is tight in a hurry. Holland considers taking his mouthpiece out to alleviate some of the danger, but he realizes that his goose is cooked and that the man formerly known as “The Dutch Knight” has him dead to rights. As the choke is not going anywhere, Holland has no choice but to tap out before getting put to sleep. With that clear-cut win in his pocket, de Ridder places himself in prime position for big fights ahead.
The Official Result
Reinier de Ridder def. Kevin Holland R1 3:31 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Angelo picks Reinier de Ridder but with hesitation. He believes de Ridder can exploit Kevin Holland's takedown defense and win via grappling. However, he worries about de Ridder's reckless ground decision-making, as seen in his UFC debut where he gave up positions. He thinks Holland's durability and jiu-jitsu could make it a decision win for de Ridder.
Cody picks Reinier de Ridder, citing the blueprint to beat Kevin Holland: take him down and control him. He notes that Holland struggles with wrestlers at middleweight, as seen against Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori. De Ridder is a large middleweight with strong judo and grappling, and Cody believes he will close the distance, clinch, and take Holland down repeatedly. He also points out that Holland has never faced an opponent taller than him, but de Ridder is 6'4". Cody expects a submission or dominant decision.
Connor picks de Ridder, citing his size, grappling, and ability to bait Holland into a grappling exchange. He notes that Holland's core is a BJJ player who sees wrestling as an invitation to grapple, which plays into de Ridder's strengths. Connor points out that de Ridder is huge and tough, and even though he's a poor striker, his lead hand and jab can set up takedowns. He believes Holland's poor takedown defense and tendency to engage in losing grappling battles will lead to a de Ridder win. Connor also mentions that de Ridder has only lost to massive powerhouses, which Holland is not.
Daniel picks de Ridder, continuing his fade of Kevin Holland. He notes that de Ridder attempted 13 takedowns in his debut and believes he only needs to take Holland down once to win. Daniel thinks de Ridder will submit Holland and took him at +126 for 2 units. He mentions that Holland is a prize fighter without title aspirations, while de Ridder is hungry.
Lucrative James picks Reinier de Ridder, citing his superior grappling and jiu-jitsu, which should exploit Kevin Holland's known weakness against grapplers. He notes Holland's poor takedown defense and tendency to abandon game plans, while de Ridder's judo trips and submissions (arm triangle, rear-naked choke) are live threats. James believes de Ridder only needs a couple of takedowns to win rounds or secure a submission, and that Holland's rangy striking style plays into de Ridder's comfort zone. He also questions Holland's motivation, contrasting it with de Ridder's title aspirations.
The host notes de Ridder had a successful UFC debut and wants to showcase his BJJ. Holland is also a BJJ black belt with a striking advantage, but the host thinks Holland will struggle to keep de Ridder off him, leading to de Ridder finding a dominant position and getting a submission victory.
Paul agrees with Cody, picking de Ridder. He notes that Holland has always struggled with takedown defense at middleweight and that de Ridder's grappling should be the difference. Paul was impressed with de Ridder's submission win over Gerald Meerschaert and believes the same game plan will work against Holland. He advises de Ridder to avoid striking exchanges and lean on takedowns early and often.
The MMA Guru picks Reinier de Ridder to submit Kevin Holland. He notes Holland is a fish out of water when taken down, and de Ridder has a massive strength advantage. He expects de Ridder to get on top and submit Holland early or in the second round. He also questions Holland's quitting tendency.
Zane also picks de Ridder, agreeing with Connor. He emphasizes that Holland's willingness to engage in grappling exchanges will be his downfall. Zane notes that de Ridder's size and grappling ability will allow him to control the fight once it hits the mat. He points out that Holland has been taken down and controlled by lesser grapplers, and de Ridder is a significant step up. Zane also mentions that Holland's striking is inconsistent, and even if he has a good boxing performance, he'll likely abandon it for grappling.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Dolidze | 0 | 19 of 33 | 57% | 57 of 101 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:50 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 18 of 28 | 64% | 36 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roman Dolidze | 0 | 19 of 33 | 57% | 57 of 101 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:50 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 18 of 28 | 64% | 36 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Dolidze | 19 of 33 | 57% | 16 of 30 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 23 |
| Kevin Holland | 18 of 28 | 64% | 5 of 13 | 3 of 4 | 10 of 11 | 18 of 28 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roman Dolidze | 19 of 33 | 57% | 16 of 30 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 23 |
| Kevin Holland | 18 of 28 | 64% | 5 of 13 | 3 of 4 | 10 of 11 | 18 of 28 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Holland (-162), Dolidze (+136)
Round 1
Stepping in for fellow Xtreme Couture product Chris Curtis, Dolidze (13-3, 7-3 UFC) will drop down in weight for this middleweight matchup. He stands across the cage from Holland (26-11, 1 NC; 13-8, 1 NC UFC), content to let his fists do the talking. The men that share knockout rates of 54% apiece will be joined in the cage by referee Jason Herzog. They opt to clap hands, and a front kick from Holland follows shortly thereafter. Dolidze takes the center of the cage but cannot get out of the way from two more kicks, and Holland jumps forward to reach him with a left hook around the guard. Holland slaps a pair of low kicks on the inner thigh, and he strafes around to not let Dolidze corner him. Holland’s kicks peck at the Georgian, and he chains two punches up top before landing with a leg kick. Dolidze scores a left hand, and he gets tripped up when Holland grabs hold of his kicking leg to stumble him. Dolidze resets and plods forward, and Holland uses his reach advantage to get off three punches before Dolidze hits him back. Dolidze fires back with a vengeance, and his strikes largely go wide. Holland chips at the front leg as he stays moving, and he tosses out another from the other leg. Dolidze charges like a bull, tackling Holland to the mat and putting him on his back relatively easily. Holland wraps his legs around the waist, hand-fighting to not let Dolidze hit him cleanly. Dolidze softens Holland up with ground-and-pound, landing short shots until Holland opens his guard and heel strikes the Georgian in the kidney repeatedly. The crowd turns on the ground fighting, and the fighters do little different to change their strategies. Holland goes back and forth between a body lock off his back and striking with his heel, and Dolidze is happy to slug away. Holland rolls for an armbar, and he rolls over and something awkward happens as Holland appears to be injured or compromised. Holland keeps moving, and he turns to his back as Dolidze climbs into full mount. Herzog asks for more activity, and Holland starts talking trash to Dolidze while Dolidze is busting him in the face with elbows and powerful punches. The horn sounds, and Holland stands up and points to his rib. Holland goes back to his corner, and he tells his team that he is struggling and does not want to quit. Holland’s corner asks him repeatedly if he can keep going. Holland’s coach, Kru Bob Perez, decides that Holland needs to be saved from himself to fight another day and calls the fight off. Meanwhile, the victorious Dolidze is awarded his jiu-jitsu black belt for the technical knockout victory.
The Official Result
Roman Dolidze def. Kevin Holland R1 5:00 via TKO (Corner Stoppage)
Angelo picks Roman Dolidze to win inside the distance, betting on his superior grappling. He notes Dolidze is a world champion grappler and should easily take down Kevin Holland, who has poor takedown defense. However, he expresses concern that Dolidze might not use his grappling and could get out-struck. He recommends betting 'Win inside the distance - decision no action' to mitigate risk, as Dolidze often wins by decision or finish.
Big Brady picks Roman Dolidze by submission in the second round, citing Holland's well-known weakness against wrestlers who can take him down and hold him down. He notes Dolidze is a big, strong middleweight with excellent grappling, and Holland has been submitted before. He also mentions a possible decision win if Dolidze controls with clinching and top pressure.
Cody picks Holland, emphasizing his speed, reach, and volume striking. He doubts Dolidze's wrestling and BJJ effectiveness, noting Holland's takedown defense and submission skills. He believes Holland can outpoint Dolidze on the feet.
Connor also picks Dolidze, agreeing that Dolidze's size and strength will be decisive. He notes that Dolidze is a nasty opportunistic grappler and that Holland's tendency to get tied up will play into Dolidze's hands. Connor thinks this is a terrible matchup for Holland and expects a dull, grinding win for Dolidze.
Daniel Vreeland picks Roman Dolidze over Kevin Holland. He notes that Dolidze is a good grappler with sharp transitions, and that Holland's weakness is being outgrappled by strong grapplers. He also criticizes Holland for fighting at middleweight, where he is undersized and gets bullied, whereas Dolidze has fought at light heavyweight and can handle the size. Vreeland believes Dolidze will get the ground game going and potentially submit Holland, though he acknowledges Holland hasn't been submitted in a while.
Daniel Vreeland is confident in Roman Dolidze, having bet on him at plus money. He believes Dolidze's physicality and grappling will be too much for Kevin Holland, who gives up easy takedowns. Vreeland points to common opponents like Marvin Vettori and Kyle Daukaus, where Dolidze performed better than Holland. He expects Dolidze to pin Holland against the fence, take him down, and eventually submit him.
Jeff Fox picks Kevin Holland but is hesitant. He notes that Holland won his last fight but didn't look good, and that he fought up a weight class. Fox is afraid Holland will get underneath his opponent on the ground and just do what he does, lying on his back. He hopes Holland doesn't do that because he's a good enough grappler not to have to, and he's the better striker. Fox acknowledges it's hard to pick Kevin Holland.
The host is surprised the line is as close as it is. He believes Dolidze's reckless fighting style will lead him to be picked apart by Kevin Holland, who is quicker and more accurate with shots down the pipe. He expects good footwork, range management, and solid grappling defense from Holland to keep the fight standing and win on the scorecards.
Paul picks Dolidze, citing his physicality and ability to make the fight ugly. He worries about Holland's chin and thinks Dolidze can close the distance and use his strength. He notes Dolidze's recent volume striking against Anthony Smith.
The MMA Guru picks Roman Dolidze over Kevin Holland, citing Dolidze's chin, leg kicks, and top control. He notes Dolidze trains at altitude and is active, while Holland's late-round finishing ability is questionable at altitude. He believes Dolidze will low kick Holland and eventually get takedowns, using his size advantage. He also mentions Holland's submission threat off his back but thinks Dolidze will be cautious.
Zane picks Dolidze, expecting a frustrating fight where Dolidze uses his size and strength to push Holland against the fence and tie him up. He notes that Holland tends to allow himself to be cornered and hugged by larger opponents, and Dolidze's grappling will be too much for Holland. Zane is not excited for this fight but sees Dolidze as the clear winner.
Michał Oleksiejczuk - Fight History
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Magomedov (-130); Oleksiejczuk (+110)
Round 1
The main card of UFC Baku kicks off with middleweights Magomedov and Oleksiejczuk, who operate under the auspices of referee Jim Perdios. Oleksiejczuk is southpaw, Magomedov orthodox, and Perdios strikes first with a warning to Magomedov for advancing with his fingers extended. Magomedov kicks the calf. Oleksiejczuk lands an uppercut to the body. Perdios warns Magomedov about the fingers again. Magomedov is active with the low kicks early, and Oleksiejczuk is thus far choosing to eat them and answer with punches. Magomedov clinches and runs Oleksiejczuk to the fence. They pummel for underhooks, and Magomedov hits the Pole with a big knee to the body. Oleksiejczuk shucks him off and they return to space. Magomedov blasts the oncoming Oleksiejczuk with a beautiful elbow that hurts him badly.
Oleksiejczuk stumbles backwards and Magomedov gives chase, dropping a few more punches, then wrapping his foe’s neck in a tight guillotine. Magomedov gets a leg up over the back and the choke is lethal. Oleksiejczuk taps, but goes out before Perdios can get there to stop the fight.
Very impressive work from Abus Magomedov.
The Official Result
Abus Magomedov def. Michal Oleksiejczuk R1 3:25 via Submission (Guillotine Choke)
AJ picks Oleksiejczuk as an underdog, believing he has improved his takedown defense with Fighting Nerds and has the cardio advantage. He notes Magomedov fades after the first round and that Oleksiejczuk can put him away with big shots in the later rounds. AJ expects a knockout in round 2 or 3.
AJ picks Oleksiejczuk by knockout, believing Magomedov is fragile and has suspect cardio. He thinks Oleksiejczuk's hands are dangerous and that he will come on strong in rounds 2 and 3, while Magomedov fades. He likes Oleksiejczuk by KO in round 2 or 3.
AJ DeVito is confident that Michał Oleksiejczuk will defeat Abusupiyan Magomedov, who he believes is declining and has a weak will to win. He expects Oleksiejczuk to win by KO in round two or three, citing Magomedov's tendency to gas and melt under pressure. He likes the moneyline at -115 and also mentions the KO prop at +175.
AJ picks Oleksiejczuk by knockout, citing Magomedov's poor cardio and tendency to fade after round one. Oleksiejczuk has improved grappling defense and power, and should survive the first round to take over and finish Magomedov in the second or third.
Angelo picks Abus because he has multiple paths to victory (striking and grappling) while Michał only has striking. He notes that both fighters have cardio issues, but Abus can fall back on wrestling. He expects a fun start but a boring finish once Abus starts shooting takedowns.
Angelo picks Magomedov, citing his multiple paths to victory: he can outstrike Oleksiejczuk, outgrapple him, or weather the early storm and win as Oleksiejczuk fades. He notes both have bad cardio, but Magomedov's is slightly better.
Angelo is surprised Abus Magomedov has flipped to underdog and thinks he wins the fight. He notes that Michał Oleksiejczuk has dangerous hands but poor cardio and grappling, and has been knocking out bums. Abus is more technical and can wrestle, so if he weathers the early storm and gets grappling going, he should run away with it.
Big Brady picks Abusupiyan Magomedov to win by submission. He highlights Magomedov's grappling credentials, having taken down and submitted black belts like Bruno Ferreira. Oleksiejczuk has terrible grappling, submitted multiple times. Brady expects Magomedov to take him down early and submit him in round one, though he notes Magomedov's questionable cardio and durability could lead to a second-round knockout loss if he gasses.
Cody picks Magomedov, agreeing with Paul. He highlights Oleksiejczuk's defensive wrestling issues and Magomedov's wrestling pedigree. He thinks Magomedov can take him down and control the fight, though he acknowledges Oleksiejczuk's power and finishing ability.
Daniel Levi picks Michał Oleksiejczuk to upset Abusupiyan Magomedov, citing his improved confidence and training at Fighting Nerds after moving from a garage gym. He notes Oleksiejczuk's marauding pressure, body shots, and recent win streak, while Magomedov has a history of fading in fights. Levi believes Oleksiejczuk's level-up and aggression will be key, though he acknowledges Magomedov's grappling threat.
Jacob picks Magomedov, calling him one of the better plays on the card. He thinks Magomedov is bigger and can bully Oleksiejczuk, who fades hard after round one. He dismisses Oleksiejczuk's win streak as beating cans and notes his grappling holes.
Lucrative James picks Michał Oleksiejczuk (Michelle Alex) because he believes Alex has better cardio, heart, will to win, and power. He notes that Abus Magomedov is more skilled technically but tends to crumble when pressured and has poor cardio. He expects Abus to start well and possibly get takedowns, but predicts the momentum will shift and Alex will finish him in round two. He also mentions that if Abus is a big underdog, he might be worth a bet, but his pick is Alex via KO.
The host acknowledges Magomedov's early danger with explosivity and power, but believes in Oleksiejczuk's improvements to avoid an early finish. He thinks Oleksiejczuk's pressure striking style will catch up to Magomedov, leading to a knockout win.
Oleksiejczuk has elite durability and has improved his striking and cardio with the Fighting Nerds. Magomedov has cardio issues and tends to fade. Oleksiejczuk will deal with early adversity and then walk him down for a knockout.
Paul picks Magomedov, citing his wrestling edge and Oleksiejczuk's poor takedown defense. He notes Oleksiejczuk's cardio issues and tendency to fade, and believes Magomedov can win early rounds and possibly coast. He prefers Magomedov pre-fight but suggests live betting Oleksiejczuk if he survives the first.
The Guru picks Oleksiejczuk, citing his pressure, boxing, and takedown defense. He believes Oleksiejczuk will mitigate Magomedov's kicks by moving forward and land in exchanges. He expects a finish, possibly in the first round.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 0 | 140 of 221 | 63% | 143 of 225 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:30 |
| Marc-André Barriault | 0 | 77 of 201 | 38% | 79 of 204 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michał Oleksiejczuk | 0 | 47 of 73 | 64% | 47 of 73 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
| Marc-André Barriault | 0 | 19 of 54 | 35% | 19 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Michał Oleksiejczuk | 0 | 41 of 68 | 60% | 42 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Marc-André Barriault | 0 | 33 of 80 | 41% | 34 of 81 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Michał Oleksiejczuk | 0 | 52 of 80 | 65% | 54 of 83 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:22 |
| Marc-André Barriault | 0 | 25 of 67 | 37% | 26 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 140 of 221 | 63% | 91 of 161 | 39 of 49 | 10 of 11 | 138 of 218 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 |
| Marc-André Barriault | 77 of 201 | 38% | 57 of 178 | 16 of 19 | 4 of 4 | 59 of 173 | 18 of 28 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michał Oleksiejczuk | 47 of 73 | 64% | 32 of 56 | 8 of 9 | 7 of 8 | 46 of 71 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
| Marc-André Barriault | 19 of 54 | 35% | 9 of 44 | 6 of 6 | 4 of 4 | 19 of 54 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Michał Oleksiejczuk | 41 of 68 | 60% | 27 of 49 | 11 of 16 | 3 of 3 | 40 of 67 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Marc-André Barriault | 33 of 80 | 41% | 28 of 74 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 21 of 60 | 12 of 20 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Michał Oleksiejczuk | 52 of 80 | 65% | 32 of 56 | 20 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 52 of 80 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Marc-André Barriault | 25 of 67 | 37% | 20 of 60 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 19 of 59 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Oleksiejczuk (-330); Barriault (+270)
Round 1
Every now and then, the matchmaking plans are glaringly obvious as to what the UFC would like from a particular pairing. This middleweight slugfest is one such bout, as Oleksiejczuk (21-9, 1 NC; 9-7, 1 NC UFC) vs. Barriault (17-10, 1 NC; 6-9, 1 NC UFC) is practically destined for a knockout. Referee Chris Tognoni is ready whether this goes 15 seconds or the whole distance, and he gathers himself as the combatants bump gloves together.
Oleksiejczuk moves himself to the center of the cage and slowly works his way forward, but Barriault strikes first with a hefty body kick. Barriault loops a right hand over the guard, and he gets countered when trying. Oleksiejczuk swipes out a few lefts to wrap them around the raised hands, looking to hand-fight to pull down one glove and open up a big right. Oleksiejczuk stings “Power Bar” with a hard left hand, backing Barriault up to the wall but not pouncing. He swats away a responsive left to chop at the lead leg with a kick, and he leans back to watch punches buzz past him. Barriault clips Oleksiejczuk when Oleksiejczuk loads up on power, and he tosses out a naked kick that has him get his jaw jacked. Oleksiejczuk hammers the body with a kick, and he loops a right hand upstairs to follow. Barriault advances, driving home a knee up the middle and peeling back.
Oleksiejczuk has a leg kick checked, and he nails the body with a resounding thud. Barriault probes out with his jab, trying to disrupt the power flying at his melon, and he zips in an uppercut to keep Oleksiejczuk honest. Oleksiejczuk walks through it to loose a leg kick, and he rolls with a left hook to put two fists on Barriault’s face. Oleksiejczuk keeps his guard up to knock Barriault back with a heavy fist, and Barriault is fighting defensively enough to defend the big stuff upstairs but his midsection is wide open. Oleksiejczuk kicks so low, it practically hits the ankle, and he goes to the body again. Barriault’s looping response is a few feet off, and he gets clubbed with two straight lefts. Oleksiejczuk bloodies up his foe’s nose with his big swings, and he hacks at the lead leg with an inside kick. Oleksiejczuk catches a body kick, lashes out with a left and hurls Barriault to the mat in hopes of pounding on him. Barriault ties him up as the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Oleksiejczuk
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Oleksiejczuk
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Oleksiejczuk
Round 2
The middleweights touch gloves, and Oleksiejczuk advances as the initial aggressor. Both men paw out their jabs, and Oleksiejczuk briefly drops Barriault to a knee with a heavy inside low kick. He swipes a right over the top, and he takes a left on the chin that he no-sells. Oleksiejczuk racks up a pair of punches on the chin, and “Power Bar” is hanging in tough and very much in this fight. Barriault swings body to head, and Oleksiejczuk does the same, both men scoring strikes. Barriault keeps his right hand pinned to his melon, and he has his guard split with a jab. Barriault loops a right to the ribs, and he catches Oleksiejczuk at the end of a pair of hooks. Oleksiejczuk slips and rips with a right hand on the jaw, and he meanders out a follow-up right that leads to him getting countered. Oleksiejczuk drives home a one-two, backing Barriault up, and he connects with a body kick with a sound like a 2-by-4 hitting a side of beef. Barriault steels himself and comes out firing, getting Oleksiejczuk’s attention when he swings with everything he has.
Barriault starts landing cleanly on Oleksiejczuk, changing his strategy completely as he walks Oleksiejczuk down. Oleksiejczuk’s power appears to be fading as Barriault ignores blows that would have irritated him the previous round. Barriault loads up, seeing that Oleksiejczuk could be losing steam, and he pressures him relentlessly. Barriault goes to the body and lands an elbow up top that cuts Oleksiejczuk’s forehead. Oleksiejczuk swings wildly with body shots and the occasional one to the head, and Barriault is on top of him forcing him to react. Oleksiejczuk lands a left that may have hit the cup, and he has a spinning back fist glance off the side of the head. Barriault marches forward, not reacting to anything that lands on him while forcing Oleksiejczuk to backpedal. The horn sounds to end a close round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barriault
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Barriault
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barriault
Round 3
The middleweights touch ‘em up before commencing the final frame, and it starts like the first round and not the second. Oleksiejczuk plants his feet and pins a one-two on the chin, shoulder-rolling to take some of the sting out of what comes back his way. He swipes out a one-two, and he digs one to the body. Both men are feeling it after their brawl, and Barriault comes out the cleaner as he backs Oleksiejczuk off with a short but effective barrage of punches. Barriault maneuvers himself to the pocket to trade, but this is where Oleksiejczuk wants to be, and he hurls back punches in bunches. Suddenly, the Polish athlete changes things up for a takedown attempt, and Barriault shuts it down as they reset in slugging range.
Both men proceed to trade leather, with Oleksiejczuk ripping body shots while Barriault headhunts. Oleksiejczuk strings three punches together, shooting in for a double behind it and bullying the Canadian to the wall. Barriault shucks it off and swings for the fence, but no one is there to be hit. Oleksiejczuk has backed away to re-engage, and they jab at one another until Oleksiejczuk pitches a high kick that bangs into the raised guard. The clinch tie-up results in a few body shots from Barriault, and a knee on the button freezes Oleksiejczuk. Oleksiejczuk takes a breath and flashes out his power punches, connecting effectively with his left to the liver. Barriault boxes back, and Oleksiejczuk kicks at his lead leg. Barriault lumbers out with a left hand, and they swat at one another with jabs out of range. Oleksiejczuk dips and clubs Barriault upside the head, and not to be outdone, Barriault kicks him in the face. Oleksiejczuk offers a high kick that hits the guard, and they proceed to throw punches, kicks and the kitchen sink at one another until we have—perhaps surprisingly—reached the final bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Oleksiejczuk (29-28 Oleksiejczuk)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Oleksiejczuk (29-28 Oleksiejczuk)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Oleksiejczuk (29-28 Oleksiejczuk)
The Official Result
Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Marc-Andre Barriault via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Michał Oleksiejczuk, citing his fast hands and power, with 8 knockouts in 9 UFC wins. He notes that Barriault's chin seems to be fading and that Oleksiejczuk hits incredibly hard. He acknowledges Barriault's wrestling could be a problem but thinks Oleksiejczuk's speed and power will prevail. He suggests under 2.5 rounds might be solid.
Big Brady picks Michał Oleksiejczuk, citing that Marc-André Barriault's chin has been cracked recently, with three knockout losses in his last four fights. He believes Oleksiejczuk's pressure and power will be too much for Barriault, who has taken a lot of damage. He predicts a first-round finish.
Cody agrees, highlighting Oleksiejczuk's 8 first-round KOs in 9 UFC wins. He notes Barriault's history of being knocked out in the first round and his inability to change his game. Cody expects Oleksiejczuk to win by KO or decision, but is confident in the victory.
Connor agrees with Zane, noting that Oleksiejczuk is a good athlete who is not shot, while Barriault is past his prime and gets hurt easily. He thinks Oleksiejczuk will put it all on Barriault and likely hurt him early. He mentions that Barriault's only chance is if Oleksiejczuk's cardio fades.
Lucrative James picks Michał Oleksiejczuk to win by KO in round one. He believes Barriault's chin is compromised and that Oleksiejczuk's power and early-round danger will be too much. James notes that Barriault's style of walking forward plays into Oleksiejczuk's hands, and he expects a quick finish.
The host picks Oleksiejczuk by knockout, but notes the line is too wide at -350. He believes Oleksiejczuk's power will eventually find Barriault's chin, but warns that Barriault could make it tough if his chin holds up, using clinch work and cardio to wear Oleksiejczuk down. He suggests a live bet on Barriault in later rounds.
Paul picks Michał Oleksiejczuk, expecting a first-round knockout. He notes Barriault's recent durability issues and Oleksiejczuk's power, especially since joining Fighting Nerds. Paul believes Oleksiejczuk's improved patience and game planning will lead to an early finish.
The host picks Michał Oleksiejczuk over Marc-André Barriault. He notes Oleksiejczuk has real power at middleweight and a resurgence since joining Fighting Nerds. He thinks Barriault has been on the receiving end of too many TKO losses. He predicts a first-round TKO.
Zane picks Oleksiejczuk because he is not physically washed and has a good multi-level striking attack. He notes that Barriault gets hurt too easily and is vulnerable, as seen in his fight against Shara Bullet. He thinks Oleksiejczuk will hurt Barriault quickly, though if it doesn't work out, it could become a hairy fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 3 of 16 | 18% | 3 of 16 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 1 | 23 of 51 | 45% | 23 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:22 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 3 of 16 | 18% | 3 of 16 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 1 | 23 of 51 | 45% | 23 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:22 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald Meerschaert | 3 of 16 | 18% | 2 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 23 of 51 | 45% | 18 of 46 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 20 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerald Meerschaert | 3 of 16 | 18% | 2 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 23 of 51 | 45% | 18 of 46 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 20 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Oleksiejczuk (-218), Meerschaert (+180)
Round 1
In the battle of surnames that would likely win against any other pair on Scrabble tonight, it should not last terribly long. In the combined 57 pro victories for Meerschaert (37-19, 12-11 UFC) and Oleksiejczuk (20-9, 1 NC; 8-7, 1 NC UFC), they have needed the judges on six of those occasions. Referee Herb Dean—who gets a bigger pop from the crowd than either athlete—will almost certainly be needed, while the scorers might be able to take this one off. Before throwing down, the violent middleweights bump fists.
The marvelously mustached Meerschaert moves to the center of the cage, and he leans back as a huge left hand buzzes past him. Oleksiejczuk looks for another power punch, and Meerschaert is out of range pitching a low kick at him. Meerschaert ducks under a few punches to go after a single, and the former light heavyweight pops him in the chops on the way out. When “GM3” tries for another takedown, the Polish athlete shuts him down and forces him to stand back up. Oleksiejczuk ignores a leg kick that misses him to clip his foe with a left hand, but it is one-and-done. Oleksiejczuk measures his man with an uppercut, and he avoids counters and is ready to stuff a takedown before it comes to light. Oleksiejczuk narrowly avoids a left hook, and he laughs off a failed shot from the submission specialist. Meerschaert gets off a left hand, and Oleksiejczuk answers him with two big punches that shake him to his core. A third uppercut dings him on the jaw when he goes for a takedown, and “step into my parlor” says the spider to the fly.
Meerschaert does not get Oleksiejczuk to oblige him in playing in the guard, instead backing off to make “GM3” strike with him.
Knowing that Meerschaert is in trouble, Oleksiejczuk jacks his foe in the jaw with three punches that send Meerschaert down to the floor again. With Dean watching in closely, Oleksiejczuk unleashes a bombardment of wide-arcing hammerfists to punish “GM3” for ever considering grappling with him. As the punches continue, with no sign of slowing down, Dean has no choice but to get involved and halts the match.
That marks one more dominant win for a Fighting Nerds competitor, and Oleksiejczuk dons the trademark glasses while also handing commentator Joe Rogan a pair as well.
The Official Result
Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Gerald Meerschaert R1 3:03 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo notes Oleksiejczuk is a pure striker with power and fast hands, while Meerschaert is a grappler with questionable chin and takedown accuracy. He thinks it's easier for Oleksiejczuk to stay on the feet and land strikes than for Meerschaert to get the fight to the ground. He leans Oleksiejczuk but says he should not be a -225 favorite in such a tricky matchup.
Big Brady picks Michał Oleksiejczuk to win by first-round knockout. He notes Oleksiejczuk is a phenomenal striker with bodywork, volume, and power, while Meerschaert is at a massive striking disadvantage. However, he acknowledges the grappling danger: Meerschaert has 30 submission wins and Oleksiejczuk has been submitted six times. He thinks Oleksiejczuk can keep the fight standing and knock out Meerschaert, especially if he has improved his takedown defense. He mentions Oleksiejczuk's ability to get back up when taken down.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Meerschaert. He notes that Oleksiejczuk has a history of getting submitted when he has a little success and then panics. He also points out that Meerschaert's recent losses were to tough opponents (de Ridder, Tavares) and that Oleksiejczuk's game is thin. He expects Meerschaert to capitalize on Oleksiejczuk's mistakes.
The host believes Oleksiejczuk's improvements from training with the fighting nerds will carry over, though it may result in a more measured approach. He expects Oleksiejczuk to wear Meerschaert down with striking and secure a finish in the third round.
The Guru picks Michał Oleksiejczuk to win by TKO in the first or second round. He believes Oleksiejczuk has improved since joining the Fighting Nerds and has nasty ground and pound and power. The Guru notes that Meerschaert is on borrowed time and doesn't move his head well, making him vulnerable. He also mentions that Oleksiejczuk has good grappling defense and reversals, so he won't be a fish out of water on the ground.
Zane picks Meerschaert, reasoning that Oleksiejczuk is prone to getting submitted due to his hyper-aggressive style and poor defensive wrestling. He notes that Oleksiejczuk will likely shoot takedowns himself or fall into submissions, and Meerschaert is a dangerous grappler. He acknowledges the risk that Oleksiejczuk could land a big shot early, but trusts Meerschaert's experience.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 3 of 26 | 11% | 3 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 1 | 34 of 57 | 59% | 34 of 59 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 3 of 26 | 11% | 3 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 1 | 34 of 57 | 59% | 34 of 59 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedriques Dumas | 3 of 26 | 11% | 0 of 18 | 2 of 5 | 1 of 3 | 3 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 34 of 57 | 59% | 27 of 49 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 21 of 30 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedriques Dumas | 3 of 26 | 11% | 0 of 18 | 2 of 5 | 1 of 3 | 3 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 34 of 57 | 59% | 27 of 49 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 21 of 30 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Oleksiejczuk (-192), Dumas (+160)
Round 1
A potential middleweight brawl takes the top spot on the early preliminary card, with referee Marc Goddard standing by to handle it. Dumas (10-2, 3-2 UFC) still has yet to register a finish since joining the roster a couple years ago, while six of seven UFC victories for Oleksiejczuk (19-9, 1 NC; 7-7, 1 NC UFC) came inside the distance. The two opt to touch gloves ahead of their scheduled melee, and Dumas throws the first strike in the form of a blocked head kick. The Floridian tries two more times with this kick, and Oleksiejczuk is on top of it and parries the subsequent front kick. Oleksiejczuk tries to get his hands on his opponent, and he ends up punching the fighter sporting the “Hood Wolf” tattoo in the chest. Oleksiejczuk mixes in body shots when Dumas ducks down, and he absorbs a flush body kick on the way out. Oleksiejczuk jabs his way into attack, and Dumas practically somersaults and sprints away. Oleksiejczuk plods forward like a Polish Terminator, measuring him with a left hook and backing him to the wall where he can further unload. Two punches are all Oleksiejczuk get off before Dumas rushes away, and Dumas’ body language is not positive at the time. Oleksiejczuk connects with a few left hands, and he ignores a head kick that Dumas tosses up half-heartedly.
Oleksiejczuk plants a one-two on the chin, and a clubbing left hand sends Dumas flying to the mat. Oleksiejczuk pounces, and he unleashes a fury of elbows and punches. Dumas stays shelled up on his back, defending and moving but still taking strikes. With Goddard watching closely, Oleksiejczuk bombards his downed foe with one final barrage of punches and elbows
, and Goddard determines that Dumas is no longer intelligently defending himself and waves the fight off. The Floridian immediately protests, motioning that he was moving back and forth, but there is nothing more he can do. Proudly training with former foe Caio Borralho, Oleksiejczuk maximizes his time on the microphone by donning the Fighting Nerds glasses and calling out Paul Craig.
The Official Result
Michael Oleksiejczuk def. Sedriques Dumas R1 2:49 via TKO (Punches and Elbows)
Connor picks Michał Oleksiejczuk out of spite, believing he has faced much better competition than Dumas and should be capable of putting pressure on him. He notes that Oleksiejczuk's game plan should be simple: throw the same one-two, pressure, and not fall in on his strikes. Connor acknowledges that Oleksiejczuk often does something stupid and loses, but hopes he can execute a basic game plan.
Daniel Levi was happy to see Michał Oleksiejczuk get a first-round stoppage over Sedriques Dumas. He praises Oleksiejczuk for changing his training environment to the Fighting Nerds and showing maturity and measured striking, outstriking Dumas 34 to 3 in under three minutes.
Zane picks Sedriques Dumas, reasoning that Oleksiejczuk has a tendency to self-destruct spectacularly, and Dumas' physicality and athleticism will allow him to capitalize on Oleksiejczuk's mistakes. He notes that Oleksiejczuk loves to explode without warning, and Dumas can wait for that to happen. Zane acknowledges Dumas' losses to Josh Fremd and Abu Sultan Rozybaev show he struggles against non-cans, but believes Oleksiejczuk's impulsiveness will be his downfall.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharabutdin Magomedov | 0 | 97 of 178 | 54% | 123 of 209 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 0 | 77 of 146 | 52% | 94 of 172 | 3 of 7 | 42% | 0 | 0 | 2:39 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sharabutdin Magomedov | 0 | 40 of 74 | 54% | 42 of 76 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 0 | 35 of 53 | 66% | 36 of 54 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:08 | |
| 2 | Sharabutdin Magomedov | 0 | 35 of 64 | 54% | 37 of 67 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 0 | 24 of 52 | 46% | 28 of 58 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:44 | |
| 3 | Sharabutdin Magomedov | 0 | 22 of 40 | 55% | 44 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 0 | 18 of 41 | 43% | 30 of 60 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:47 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharabutdin Magomedov | 97 of 178 | 54% | 52 of 112 | 33 of 52 | 12 of 14 | 89 of 163 | 8 of 15 | 0 of 0 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 77 of 146 | 52% | 45 of 103 | 18 of 27 | 14 of 16 | 72 of 138 | 4 of 6 | 1 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sharabutdin Magomedov | 40 of 74 | 54% | 16 of 39 | 17 of 26 | 7 of 9 | 38 of 69 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 35 of 53 | 66% | 23 of 38 | 9 of 11 | 3 of 4 | 34 of 50 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sharabutdin Magomedov | 35 of 64 | 54% | 24 of 48 | 7 of 12 | 4 of 4 | 33 of 60 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 24 of 52 | 46% | 12 of 35 | 5 of 9 | 7 of 8 | 22 of 50 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Sharabutdin Magomedov | 22 of 40 | 55% | 12 of 25 | 9 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 18 of 34 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 18 of 41 | 43% | 10 of 30 | 4 of 7 | 4 of 4 | 16 of 38 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Magomedov (-238), Oleksiejczuk (+195)
Round 1
The latest hot commodity out of Russia for the UFC, Magomedov (13-0, 2-0 UFC) has a stiff test in front of him in the power-punching Pole Oleksiejczuk (19-8, 1 NC; 7-6, 1 NC UFC). “Shara Bullet” has passed every previous exam set before him, winning most thus far via strikes. Together, they have performed 25 knockouts, so referee Dan Movahedi is prepped and ready for the potential of a 26th. Interested in lopping the other’s head off at the stem, they pass right by touching gloves. Bouncing towards and away from one another in alternating stances, Oleksiejczuk is the first to reach his opponent. Oleksiejczuk reaches his foe with a right and a left while Magomedov kicks. Oleksiejczuk jabs and defends a right hand and a trio of kicks. Oleksiejczuk knocks his man off his seat with a left hand, and Magomedov pulls on the fence to stand back up. Oleksiejczuk bears down on him with two left hooks, and he aims a left to the body while Magomedov kicks him twice in the side. Oleksiejczuk connects with a left hand and eats a left hand counter, and he digs a left to the torso. Magomedov chips with two kicks and absorbs another flush left hand, and Oleksiejczuk aims another heavy left at the ribs. Magomedov tries to spin with a punch, and he catches Oleksiejczuk coming in with a knee. Oleksiejczuk windmills a left hand, and the second he throws lands flush. Magomedov replies with a short few punches, and an elbow gets Oleksiejczuk’s attention and shreds him open. Magomedov knees him and pushes Oleksiejczuk away, but Oleksiejczuk walks right towards him again and parries two high kicks. Oleksiejczuk digs a left to the side and absorbs a clean knee and a side kick to the same spot, and he loops a right hand over the guard. Magomedov lands a body kick and pulls on the top of the head, getting off a head kick and taking a left hand off the forehead. Magomedov lands and gets tagged, but his knee connects cleanly as Oleksiejczuk tries to tie him up. There is a brief Thai clinch, and they separate as Oleksiejczuk swarms with left hooks. Oleksiejczuk kicks the front leg and tries to catch a side kick, as Magomedov buzzes him with spinning back elbow. Magomedov skirts away and pitches out side kicks, and he has a leg kick checked. Oleksiejczuk wings a left up high when a head kick flies at him, and he backs Magomedov of with a second left. Oleksiejczuk pounds on the body with a knee and a kick, and he swipes out with a right hand. Oleksiejczuk drills the chest with a straight left, and he lumbers forward swinging lefts. Magomedov gets off a body kick and ducks a swinging punch, and he dodges the worst of the wild punches except for one. The Russian misses a head kick right before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Round 2
Oleksiejczuk is so amped up to go, Movahedi has to back him up halfway across the cage. They practically sprint out of their corners to start fighting again, with Oleksiejczuk backing the Russian off immediately. Magomedov snipes at his opponent while backing off, with a side kick, low kick and check left hook. Oleksiejczuk lumbers at him with looping punches, and Magomedov’s head movement keeps him largely safe. Magomedov scores with front kicks, and Oleksiejczuk lands a left to the body and then one up top. Magomedov stuns his foe with a Superman punch, and Oleksiejczuk turns him around with a left hand. Magomedov fakes a spin, and his front leg gets kicked when recovering. Oleksiejczuk uses a body lock to try to take the fight down, and Magomedov blatantly grabs the fence to stay on his feet and is not called because Movahedi is on the wrong side. Oleksiejczuk releases him and eats a right to the body and a right to the head that briefly shakes him up. Blood flows from the left side of his head on multiple wounds, and he still is headhunting and throwing everything he has. Oleksiejczuk kicks the front leg and whiffs on a left hook, and he walks into a check hook and a jab. Oleksiejczuk responds with a clean left hand, and Magomedov stands firm and answers with a straight right hand down the pipe. They both throw hands at the same time, with Oleksiejczuk landing cleaner as he dodges the sneaky front-leg head kick. Oleksiejczuk gets in a left hand as Magomedov bounces and moves, and he has a massive left hand miss him by a matter of millimeters. Oleksiejczuk rips a left to the side as he jabs his way forward, and a left hook brushes the beard. Oleksiejczuk blocks a head kick as the crowd oohs, and Magomedov is quick to throw another low kick. Magomedov jumps into his offense, and he lines up several knees before Oleksiejczuk can push him away. Oleksiejczuk reaches his foe with a left and a right, and he takes a deep breath. Magomedov slips a punch and zips a counter up high, and he remains in perpetual motion while not staying in the same spot for long. Oleksiejczuk kicks the front leg and loops a left over the top, and he dodges a left hook and counters cleanly. Magomedov connects with a head kick, and Oleksiejczuk throws him to the floor and hops onto the back when they hit the mat. Oleksiejczuk sneaks a single hook in and considers a choke, but Magomedov hand-fights to prevent anything from materializing. Oleksiejczuk fastens one arm beneath the chin, and Magomedov punches him from behind until the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Round 3
The middleweights meet in the middle after 10 minutes of blood and guts battle. Magomedov misses with a knee, and Oleksiejczuk belts him in the jaw. “Shara Bullet” mocks him, asking if that is all he has, and Oleksiejczuk swings hard in response. Oleksiejczuk loops a left over the top, and he gets kicked in the guts while wading forward. Oleksiejczuk telegraphs a left hand that Magomedov is able to block, and speed is on the side of the Russian at this point. Magomedov delivers a kick to the body, and he laughs off the attacks from Oleksiejczuk. Oleksiejczuk whiffs on looping shots as he walks forward, and Magomedov keeps his hands down and moves from side toe side. Oleksiejczuk is an inch out of range from a brutal left hand, and he follows him around and scores one. Magomedov knees him in the face and then side kicks him square on the jaw, and Oleksiejczuk can do nothing but tank it. Magomedov connects with a side kick, and Oleksiejczuk punches him in the body back. Magomedov swats with left hands and side kicks, and he leans back when Oleksiejczuk loads up on his left hand. Magomedov hammers the body with several knees, and he kicks the Polish fighter in the head, who does not budge. Oleksiejczuk lands a leg kick and wings a left hook, and Magomedov once more boots him upside the head. Oleksiejczuk grabs hold of him and throws him to the canvas in response, and Magomedov wall-walks and keeps his balance to prevent the mat return. Oleksiejczuk attempts a double, and Magomedov stops it. Magomedov stands him up and slashes him with an elbow, and Oleksiejczuk keeps his chin tucked and unleashes a left hand. With a minute to go, Oleksiejczuk sprints forward and grabs hold of a single, dumping “Shara Bullet” to the canvas. Magomedov lands several rabbit punches to the back of the head, and Movahedi warns him for the fouls. Magomedov hacks with elbows from his back, and these may have cut Oleksiejczuk a few more times. Oleksiejczuk tries to mount some offense, and they proceed to trade strikes right to the final horn.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (30-27 Magomedov)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (30-27 Magomedov)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (30-27 Magomedov)
The Official Result
Sharabudtin Magomedov def. Michal Oleksiejczuk via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Angelo picks Magomedov despite concerns about his recent activity and lack of killer instinct. He thinks Magomedov is still very powerful and should be good enough to win, especially as Oleksiejczuk fades late. He notes Magomedov's busy schedule and possible lack of camp, but still expects a win.
Big Brady is confident in Sharabutdin due to Oleksiejczuk's concerning situation: he is not with a team, training in his garage, talking about retirement, and has been finished quickly in recent fights. He thinks Oleksiejczuk's heart is not in it and he will fold after the first few minutes, predicting a first-round knockout for Sharabutdin.
Cody picks Sharabutdin Magomedov, noting that Michał Oleksiejczuk has one foot out the door, training in his garage and talking about retirement. He believes Shara is still improving and has more upside, while Oleksiejczuk has stagnated. Cody thinks Shara's cardio and grappling will improve fight to fight, and that Oleksiejczuk's only path is an early knockout. He also mentions Shara is being fed winnable opponents.
Daniel believes Shara has a superior striking arsenal and will capitalize on Oleksiejczuk's overly aggressive style. He notes that Oleksiejczuk makes bonehead mistakes on the mat and likes to brawl, which plays into Shara's hands. He thinks Shara will blast the body and take advantage of openings, and that the time to fade Shara is not now but against a real grappler.
Oleksiejczuk will crowd Magomedov, causing issues for his kicking game. If he reins in his durability, he should land big power and possibly knock out Magomedov in the first two rounds.
Paul picks Sharabutdin Magomedov, citing Oleksiejczuk's poor cardio and submission losses. He notes that Oleksiejczuk has been submitted multiple times and that Shara's striking is good enough to outvolume him. Paul expects Shara to finish late or win a decision, and mentions a potential Shara late finish prop. He also points out that Oleksiejczuk has no cardio and poor grappling.
The MMA Guru picks Sharabutdin Magomedov over Michał Oleksiejczuk, citing Magomedov's superior striking and low kicks. He notes Oleksiejczuk's poor mindset, having commented that he will probably lose. He thinks Magomedov's technical outside work will be enough, despite his weak ground game. He mentions Oleksiejczuk's vulnerability to low kicks while moving backwards.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 8 of 17 | 47% | 8 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:16 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 0 | 8 of 18 | 44% | 9 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:31 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 8 of 17 | 47% | 8 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:16 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 0 | 8 of 18 | 44% | 9 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:31 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 8 of 17 | 47% | 5 of 13 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 8 of 18 | 44% | 5 of 15 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 8 of 17 | 47% | 5 of 13 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 8 of 18 | 44% | 5 of 15 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Holland (-265), Oleksiejczuk (+215)
Round 1
After a while at welterweight, the ultra-active Holland (25-11, 1 NC; 12-8, 1 NC UFC) is bouncing back to 185 pounds for a relatively short-notice affair. He takes on powerful Polish slugger Oleksiejczuk (19-7, 1 NC; 7-5, 1 NC UFC) in a fight between two men with finish rates around 80%. Referee Herb Dean has donned his hard hat for what’s about to come, as it could end quickly and violently. The fighters share a swift fist bump ahead of the melee, and Holland is backed off in a hurry from a heavy right hand from the Polish man. Holland slides away from another, and Oleksiejczuk is headhunting and loaded for bear. Holland stays on his bike, keeping just out of reach, and he sits down on a kick and pushes Oleksiejczuk away. At the same time, Oleksiejczuk unleashes a left hand, and he knocks Holland to his seat. Holland falls to his back, getting pounded on from hammerfists, and he clears his head and snatches up an armbar in the blink of an eye. Oleksiejczuk tries to step over, and in the process, Holland rolls his foe over, wrenching on it with all his might. Oleksiejczuk tries to sit up, and Holland tells Dean that he broke Oleksiejczuk’s arm. Dean looks down at the damaged limb, and he has immediate flashbacks of Tim Sylvia against Frank Mir and waves the fight off when seeing the elbow is backwards and something appears to be protruding that should not be doing that. Oleksiejczuk protests, but he cannot raise his arm and it is clearly in dire straits. An elated “Trailblazer” climbs up and jumps out of the cage to share words with Trump, White, Hunter Campbell and matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard. Holland proudly declares himself the ultimate gatekeeper—his words, not ours—and he says he will fight anyone at 170, 185 or higher.
The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Michal Oleksiejczuk R1 1:34 via Technical Submission (Armbar)
Angelo picks Kevin Holland despite the short notice, believing his range, accuracy, and experience will overcome Michał Oleksiejczuk's early power. He notes that Holland is the bigger fighter and has a massive advantage on the ground. He is a little worried about Oleksiejczuk's fast hands but is confident Holland will win.
Big Brady likes Kevin Holland a lot, stating he should not only win but win dominantly by finish (KO or submission). He believes Holland has advantages everywhere and that Oleksiejczuk is a round-one knockout bust if the fight goes to the second. He acknowledges Holland's poor fight IQ but thinks this is a big step down in competition. He expects a finish, possibly in the first round.
Cody picks Holland, calling Oleksiejczuk a 'glass cannon' who fades after the first round. He notes Oleksiejczuk's six first-round KOs but argues his wins are over low-level opposition. Cody believes Holland's durability, volume, and pace will be too much, and that Holland's frame at 185 lbs is fine. He suggests Holland is a better value at -280 than Makhachev at -700.
Daniel fades Holland due to his tendency to fool around and rely on physical gifts. He believes Oleksiejczuk's pressure and durability will break Holland, citing his fights with Krylov and Jacoby. He worries about Holland's neck attacks but sees value in the underdog.
Daniel Vreeland picks Kevin Holland despite being unhappy about it. He argues that Holland doesn't walk into shots on the feet and has survived fights with excellent strikers like Jack Della Maddalena and Michael Venom Page without being knocked out. Vreeland doesn't see Oleksiejczuk as the guy to finally tag Holland, nor does he think Oleksiejczuk can win a decision. He acknowledges Holland fights stupidly but sees no path for Oleksiejczuk.
Jeff Fox picks Oleksiejczuk because he has no faith in Kevin Holland fighting smart. He notes Holland has lost two straight and tends to eat shots. Fox points to Oleksiejczuk's knockout of Sam Alvey and his power, believing he can catch Holland. He dismisses Holland's durability against top strikers, saying Oleksiejczuk is the type to land a big shot.
The host expects Holland to use his length and footwork to keep Oleksiejczuk at range and eventually find a finish. Oleksiejczuk's pressure style may be nullified by Holland's striking and sneaky submission game. However, the host notes that Holland is tough to trust at -260, but if he fights smart, he should win inside the distance.
Paul picks Holland, noting his incredible chin and durability. He expects Oleksiejczuk to have early success but fade, and Holland to find his groove and finish via submission (club and sub). He mentions Holland's submission skills and Oleksiejczuk's poor cardio. Paul likes Holland by submission at +275.
The MMA Guru picks Michał Oleksiejczuk, though he is hesitant. He believes Kevin Holland has lost his snap and grit, and that Oleksiejczuk will have a weight advantage at 185. He notes Oleksiejczuk's underrated grappling and ability to outgrapple Holland. He worries about Holland's motivation and thinks Oleksiejczuk has more drive.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michel Pereira | 0 | 11 of 15 | 73% | 11 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:18 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 0 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michel Pereira | 0 | 11 of 15 | 73% | 11 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:18 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 0 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michel Pereira | 11 of 15 | 73% | 5 of 9 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 13 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michel Pereira | 11 of 15 | 73% | 5 of 9 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 13 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pereira (-148), Oleksiejczuk (+124)
Round 1
A casual observer might look at this battle of Michel vs. Michal and not immediately know which one competed at light heavyweight recently. By the size of Pereira (29-11, 2 NC; 7-2 UFC), he does not look like the kind of person that made welterweight in 2022. On the other hand, Oleksiejczuk (19-6, 1 NC; 7-4, 1 NC UFC) appears well-suited for his newer, lighter weight class, and his knockout last year over Chidi Njokuani shines on his ledger. Pereira is psyched to compete in Miami, and he brings his cousin with him to do a synchronized, choreographed dance before walking out. This potentially wild 185-pound affair will be officiated by referee Dan Miragliotta, and there is a quick glove touch from the competitors to get it going. Pereira hops back and forth, changing stances, and he dodges a right hand and rips two kicks to the body. Oleksiejczuk goes over the top with a right hook, and Pereira backs off and skirts to the side. Pereira lands two speedy punches before springing to the side, and he drives a right hand on the solar plexus and hurts Oleksiejczuk. Oleksiejczuk backs off to the fence, bent over but trying to remain on his feet, and Pereira charges at him and knees him twice in the same spot to buckle the Polish fighter’s knees.
Oleksiejczuk slumps to the ground, and Pereira leaps around to take his back and grab hold of a rear-naked choke without even bothering to get a hook in. The Brazilian locks down the choke and his forearm slides beneath the chin, and he squeezes with all his might. Oleksiejczuk does not once consider tapping, and he fades into unconsciousness as the submission puts him all the way out.
Miragliotta pulls them apart when recognizing Oleksiejczuk is out cold, and Pereira rushes to the center of the cage and breakdances to celebrate. What a performance for Pereira, who has now won seven in a row and may soon be a contender at his new weight class of middleweight.
The Official Result
Michel Pereira def. Michal Oleksiejczuk R1 1:01 via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Angelo picks Michel Pereira, citing his better cardio, power, and grappling. He notes Oleksiejczuk has a great chin but can fade. He has a half-unit bet on Pereira at -130, but keeps it small because Oleksiejczuk could survive early and outpoint him.
Big Brady picks Michał Oleksiejczuk to win by decision. He notes that while Pereira has a BJJ black belt, he doesn't wrestle often and lacks the cardio to grapple for 15 minutes. He expects the fight to stay on the feet, where Oleksiejczuk's forward pressure, body work, and volume will wear down Pereira and win the later rounds.
Cody notes that Pereira has matured and now fights more conservatively, using his accuracy and wrestling. He thinks Oleksiejczuk is a reckless brawler with poor takedown defense, and Pereira will counter him and mix in takedowns to win a decision.
Oleksiejczuk has great durability and forward pressure, marching forward and breaking opponents with his boxing. He has eaten clean shots and continued to push. Pereira is dangerous early with his unorthodox power, but Oleksiejczuk's durability should allow him to weather the early storm. As the fight goes on, Oleksiejczuk will start to catch Pereira, coral him against the cage, and land combinations. I expect Oleksiejczuk to get a finish in the second or third round, possibly by knockout.
Paul agrees, highlighting Pereira's improved fight IQ and the fact that he looked great at 185. He thinks Oleksiejczuk's wrestling is exploitable and that Pereira has multiple ways to win.
The MMA Guru picks Michał Oleksiejczuk, citing concerns about Michel Pereira's finishing ability and cardio. He notes Pereira failed to finish chinny fighters like Andre Fialho and Nico Price, and that Oleksiejczuk is extremely tough and has power. He predicts Oleksiejczuk will pressure Pereira, take him down, and finish with a body shot TKO in round two.
Expert Picks (9)
Angelo picks Kevin Holland despite the short notice, believing his range, accuracy, and experience will overcome Michał Oleksiejczuk's early power. He notes that Holland is the bigger fighter and has a massive advantage on the ground. He is a little worried about Oleksiejczuk's fast hands but is confident Holland will win.
Big Brady likes Kevin Holland a lot, stating he should not only win but win dominantly by finish (KO or submission). He believes Holland has advantages everywhere and that Oleksiejczuk is a round-one knockout bust if the fight goes to the second. He acknowledges Holland's poor fight IQ but thinks this is a big step down in competition. He expects a finish, possibly in the first round.
Cody picks Holland, calling Oleksiejczuk a 'glass cannon' who fades after the first round. He notes Oleksiejczuk's six first-round KOs but argues his wins are over low-level opposition. Cody believes Holland's durability, volume, and pace will be too much, and that Holland's frame at 185 lbs is fine. He suggests Holland is a better value at -280 than Makhachev at -700.
Daniel Vreeland picks Kevin Holland despite being unhappy about it. He argues that Holland doesn't walk into shots on the feet and has survived fights with excellent strikers like Jack Della Maddalena and Michael Venom Page without being knocked out. Vreeland doesn't see Oleksiejczuk as the guy to finally tag Holland, nor does he think Oleksiejczuk can win a decision. He acknowledges Holland fights stupidly but sees no path for Oleksiejczuk.
Daniel fades Holland due to his tendency to fool around and rely on physical gifts. He believes Oleksiejczuk's pressure and durability will break Holland, citing his fights with Krylov and Jacoby. He worries about Holland's neck attacks but sees value in the underdog.
Jeff Fox picks Oleksiejczuk because he has no faith in Kevin Holland fighting smart. He notes Holland has lost two straight and tends to eat shots. Fox points to Oleksiejczuk's knockout of Sam Alvey and his power, believing he can catch Holland. He dismisses Holland's durability against top strikers, saying Oleksiejczuk is the type to land a big shot.
The host expects Holland to use his length and footwork to keep Oleksiejczuk at range and eventually find a finish. Oleksiejczuk's pressure style may be nullified by Holland's striking and sneaky submission game. However, the host notes that Holland is tough to trust at -260, but if he fights smart, he should win inside the distance.
Paul picks Holland, noting his incredible chin and durability. He expects Oleksiejczuk to have early success but fade, and Holland to find his groove and finish via submission (club and sub). He mentions Holland's submission skills and Oleksiejczuk's poor cardio. Paul likes Holland by submission at +275.
The MMA Guru picks Michał Oleksiejczuk, though he is hesitant. He believes Kevin Holland has lost his snap and grit, and that Oleksiejczuk will have a weight advantage at 185. He notes Oleksiejczuk's underrated grappling and ability to outgrapple Holland. He worries about Holland's motivation and thinks Oleksiejczuk has more drive.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!