Kevin Holland
"Trailblazer"Career Averages
Win Methods (16)
Loss Methods (12)
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 |
Expert Picks (11)
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)
Expert Picks (9)
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)
Expert Picks (6)
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.
Expert Picks (6)
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
Expert Picks (6)
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)
Expert Picks (9)
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)
Expert Picks (11)
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 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.
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.
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.
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 |
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 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.
Mar 09, 2024
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Page | 0 | 29 of 61 | 47% | 64 of 99 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 1 | 0 | 4:22 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 41 of 62 | 66% | 59 of 81 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:26 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Page | 0 | 11 of 26 | 42% | 30 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:54 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 17 of 27 | 62% | 25 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:49 | |
| 2 | Michael Page | 0 | 16 of 27 | 59% | 26 of 37 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 2:05 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 10 of 15 | 66% | 14 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Michael Page | 0 | 2 of 8 | 25% | 8 of 15 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:23 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 14 of 20 | 70% | 20 of 26 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:37 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Page | 29 of 61 | 47% | 11 of 37 | 4 of 6 | 14 of 18 | 18 of 47 | 4 of 5 | 7 of 9 |
| Kevin Holland | 41 of 62 | 66% | 28 of 47 | 8 of 10 | 5 of 5 | 38 of 58 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Page | 11 of 26 | 42% | 4 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 6 | 9 of 24 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 17 of 27 | 62% | 12 of 21 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 25 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Michael Page | 16 of 27 | 59% | 7 of 15 | 3 of 4 | 6 of 8 | 8 of 16 | 2 of 3 | 6 of 8 |
| Kevin Holland | 10 of 15 | 66% | 6 of 10 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Michael Page | 2 of 8 | 25% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Kevin Holland | 14 of 20 | 70% | 10 of 16 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Holland (-135), Page (+114)
Round 1
It is a striker’s delight coming up next, with a former Bellator fighter hoping to represent the UFC brand well. That ex-Bellator name would be Holland (25-10, 1 NC; 12-7, 1 NC UFC), who prevailed at Bellator 195 against Teagan Dooley prior to his Contender Series fight. He greets Super Fight League veteran Page (21-2, 0-0 UFC), who may have also fought somewhere that that the commentary booth will not likely say. This could be a wacky one, so referee Andrew Glenn better know what he is getting himself into. Although they have had a back-and-forth leading up to this “featured fight of the night,” the welterweights do touch gloves first. Page springs back and forth, his hands down, and he swats away a punch from his opponent. Holland swings wide, and Page nails him with a low kick. Holland lands a jab, and he misses with a heavy left hand as Page is quick in and out. Holland misses on a punch, and Page tags him back and tells the crowd to hush because it was just a punch. Holland grins at him, and he comes forward and swings with everything he has as Page starts doing the Ali shuffle. Holland ties him up against the fence, where he stomps Page’s toes and smacks him with his shoulder. Holland continues thumping the Brit with his shoulder, until Page throws him aside and resets to his preferred striking range. Page reaches with a right hand over the top, and he elbows Holland on the temple when leaping forward. Page backs off and then jumps back in to grab Holland from behind, and Holland shrugs it off and absorbs an elbow when they break. Page delivers a kick to the side, and he hurts Holland with a right hand and makes a face at him. Holland charges and catches Page with a single elbow, but he gets blasted with an overhand right from the awkward Page. Page scores another huge right hand, and Holland responds with a low kick that knocks him off his feet momentarily. Page springs up and the two tie up, and Holland heel kicks the back of the thigh of Page. Holland uses open-handed slaps to box the ears, and he pulls himself free. Page dodges and connects with a clean right hand, and he strafes out of the way. Holland lunges forward, and even with a reach advantage, he cannot quite get off a shot on his opponent. Holland kicks the lead leg, and they crash together in a clinch. Holland pushes him to the wall, and he knees the Brit once before Page splits away. Page spins with an elbow that drill Holland in the forehead, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Page
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Page
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Page
Round 2
Holland is all smiles to start off the second round, and after a glove touch, he narrowly avoids a spinning wheel kick. Holland charges and catches Page at the end of a right hand, and he bullies Page to the fence. Holland uses the close range to knee his foe in the thigh a few times before Page splits off, and they resume their distant striking approaches. Holland comes up short on a winging right hand as Page is in and out like the wind, and Page pops him with a short right hand. Page considers an axe kick, and when he spins with a back kick, he topples over. “Trailblazer” charges after him, nearly dragging Page down from behind, and Page stands up. Holland drags him down from behind, and he practically falls into back control. Holland hooks up a choke, and Page turns to put his back to the mat so he can break it up. Holland lowers himself down and slashes with elbows, and he smothers his opponent in half guard. Page tries to sit up, and Holland presses him back down and elbows him a few more times. Page works his way to his knees and gets back to his feet, and he makes Holland pay for the ground game by nailing Holland with an overhand right. Holland almost walks face-first into a short right on the way in, and he whiffs with his own big right. Holland kicks behind the knee of his opponent, and Page connects with a short right hand. Page lands with a hard right hand, and he slings Holland to the ground. Holland is hurt, but Page does not bother finishing him in this position and instead lets him get back to his feet. Holland kicks the body and head, and he walks into a spinning back elbow. Holland races ahead after him, missing with most of his strikes, and the clinch ends the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Page
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Page
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Page
Round 3
The last round begins with Page charging, and he connects with a right hand and trips Holland up to throw him down. Holland laughs when he hits the ground, and Page appears to offer an apology, perhaps because he missed the glove touch. Holland climbs back up, and he ties Page up. Page tosses his foe down to a knee, and Holland pops back up and grabs Page from behind. Holland brings Page down to his knees, and Page fights his way to his feet and shoves Holland away. Page clips him with a fierce right hand, and he tosses Holland down and starts dancing. Holland rolls back to his feet and looks frustrated as Glenn lets him up. Page sprints in with two punches and a head kick, and Holland defends against it and takes a jumping side kick. Holland’s gas tank runs on empty as Page kicks him in the stomach. When Holland advances, Page spins with a back elbow that cuts Holland on the cheek. Page then trips and dumps him to the ground, and Holland climbs back up and crashes forward only to miss. Page ties him up, and the two start talking when clinched up. Page pushes him away, and he steps away from a low kick and lands a straight left hand. Holland grips a single, and this only pushes Page back to the wall so he can stomp his toes. Page stops any possible takedown and scoots away, and he leaps forward to nail Holland with a right hand. Holland stops the sweep that follows, and he walks into a body shot. Holland flails at air, unable to find his mark, and he dances away and is angry while telling Page to fight him. Page does not bite, so Holland pushes up close to him to clinch as the fight ends. The crowd does not love the conclusion of the fight, but it was the end of a one-sided performance for the showman Page, who has introduced himself to the UFC in a memorable way.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Page (30-27 Page)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Page (30-27 Page)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Page (30-27 Page)
The Official Result
Michael Page def. Kevin Holland via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Expert Picks (9)
Angelo leans Michael Page, citing his unorthodox karate style, speed, and power. He thinks Page's awkwardness will cause Kevin Holland to miss and then look to wrestle. He acknowledges this is Page's toughest test and that Holland is durable and composed. He has a small bet at even money but won't parlay Page.
Big Brady picks Michael Page to win by decision. He notes that Holland has poor fight IQ and likely won't grapple, so the fight will stay on the feet. He expects a close, competitive striking match that goes the distance, and he takes the dog in Page. He has low confidence and thinks the judges could get it wrong.
Cody thinks Holland has the durability and volume to overwhelm Page, and that Holland can exploit Page's lack of recent activity and questionable chin. He notes that Holland has a clear path to victory via wrestling, but acknowledges Holland might choose to strike instead.
Daniel is confident in MVP, citing his unorthodox striking, speed, and improved takedown defense. He dismisses the idea that Holland will wrestle, noting Holland averages less than one takedown per 15 minutes and is not a wrestler. Daniel believes MVP's distance and angles will frustrate Holland, and that Holland makes boneheaded mistakes. He bet MVP at plus 115 and expects a low-output striking match that could go to a split decision or a knockout of Holland.
Daniel Vreeland also picks Michael Page, though he initially hesitates. He notes that Page's recent results are actually improving and that his only losses are to Douglas Lima and Logan Storley, both via wrestling-heavy game plans. Vreeland argues that Page is still a better kickboxer than Holland and that Holland's path to victory is wrestling, but he doubts Holland can execute that game plan. He points out that even Douglas Lima couldn't consistently wrestle Page, so Holland may struggle. Vreeland concludes that Page's striking is enough to win.
Jeff Fox picks Michael Page as a dog, citing Kevin Holland's tendency to strike rather than grapple. He believes Holland will choose to strike with Page, which plays into Page's strengths. Fox notes that Page is past his prime but still has the striking prowess to beat Holland. He references Page's losses to Douglas Lima and Logan Storley, but argues that Page's striking is still elite and that Holland is not a strong wrestler. Fox is confident that Page's kickboxing will overwhelm Holland.
Page is a devastating striker with incredible speed, precision, and power. Holland will likely try to strike with him early, but his wrestling is not good enough to consistently take Page down. Page has good footwork and distance management to avoid takedowns and land his own shots. I expect Page to touch up Holland and eventually find a knockout in the second or third round. Holland's tendency to leave openings when his wrestling fails will be his downfall.
Paul believes Page is past his prime and hasn't fought in a year, while Holland is durable and has a significant experience advantage. He thinks Holland can use his wrestling to control Page, but also notes that Holland might choose to stand and trade, which could be risky.
The MMA Guru picks Michael Page, predicting a boring fight but a win. He believes Page's low kicks will be key, as Holland has poor leg kick defense. He expects Holland to get frustrated and drop his output, and Page will drop him off-balance with a straight right. He cites Holland's losses to fighters who used leg kicks effectively.
Sep 16, 2023
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Della Maddalena | 0 | 127 of 356 | 35% | 127 of 356 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 105 of 190 | 55% | 105 of 190 | 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 | Jack Della Maddalena | 0 | 40 of 111 | 36% | 40 of 111 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 41 of 69 | 59% | 41 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Jack Della Maddalena | 0 | 49 of 127 | 38% | 49 of 127 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 34 of 61 | 55% | 34 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Jack Della Maddalena | 0 | 38 of 118 | 32% | 38 of 118 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 30 of 60 | 50% | 30 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Della Maddalena | 127 of 356 | 35% | 59 of 258 | 33 of 55 | 35 of 43 | 119 of 346 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 105 of 190 | 55% | 46 of 115 | 36 of 49 | 23 of 26 | 94 of 175 | 11 of 15 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack Della Maddalena | 40 of 111 | 36% | 15 of 76 | 11 of 18 | 14 of 17 | 36 of 105 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 41 of 69 | 59% | 19 of 42 | 14 of 18 | 8 of 9 | 34 of 60 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jack Della Maddalena | 49 of 127 | 38% | 27 of 97 | 10 of 16 | 12 of 14 | 46 of 124 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 34 of 61 | 55% | 10 of 34 | 14 of 17 | 10 of 10 | 33 of 60 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jack Della Maddalena | 38 of 118 | 32% | 17 of 85 | 12 of 21 | 9 of 12 | 37 of 117 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 30 of 60 | 50% | 17 of 39 | 8 of 14 | 5 of 7 | 27 of 55 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Della Maddalena (-148), Holland (+124)
Round 1
Ranked welterweights cross paths in the compelling co-main event, as Della Maddalena (15-2, 5-0 UFC) puts his remarkable 15-fight winning streak on the line in arguably his toughest test to date. The 30-year-old Holland (25-9, 12-6 UFC) boasts 21 finishes among his 25 career victories. Jason Herzog draws the officiating assignment. Della Maddalena lunges forward with jabs and hammers home a leg kick. Holland answers with a leg kick of his own, stays light on his feet and looks to penetrate the Aussie’s defenses with punches down the middle. Della Maddalena attacks the body with hooks and tries to stay close to the Texan, hoping to negate a significant reach advantage. They engage one another at close range in the center of the cage, trading elbows and punches that draw oohs and aahs from the crowd. Holland punctuates a combination with a left hook. Della Maddalena responds with a right hand over the top. Holland stays busy with his kicks, zeroing in on the legs, body and occasionally the head. Della Maddalena scores with a body-head volley in the waning seconds.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Della Maddalena
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Della Maddalena
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Della Maddalena
Round 2
Holland paws with his jab but lands nothing of significance. Della Maddalena sneaks in a leg kick, closes the distance and connects with a right hand upstairs. Holland answers with front kicks to the body and push kicks to the legs. This has the makings of a nip-tuck affair that could go either way. A short counter right lands for Holland, who rolls with punches as the Aussie tries to return fire. Della Maddalena struggling to generate enough output. Holland stays busy with his hands and feet. He doubles and triples up on his jab. Della Maddalena punctuates a combination with a leg kick. Holland shoots on a takedown and bails on it, with both men throwing elbows on the exit. Holland clips his opponent with a right hook at close range, catches a kick and nearly dumps the Aussie to the canvas as the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Della Maddalena
Round 3
Della Maddalena opens the third round with a clubbing right hand that forces “Trailblazer” to retreat and circle. Holland keeps his composure and threatens with kicks. He leans on his jab and connects with a spinning reverse elbow, but it fails to make much of an impact. Della Maddalena cuts loose with punches, and while he lands a few of them, most miss the mark. The Aussie is the more active participant through the first half of the period. Holland is not hitting the accelerator, even though he needs to. Della Maddalena appears to be blocking a majority of his shots. The crowd boos for some reason. Della Maddalena answers every Holland strike with two, three and four of his own. Holland starting to pick up the pace, but it looks to be a case of too little too late. Della Maddalena delivers a pair of short-range elbows just before the fight ends.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Della Maddalena (29-28 Della Maddalena)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Della Maddalena (29-28 Della Maddalena)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Della Maddalena (30-27 Della Maddalena)
The Official Result
Jack Della Maddalena def. Kevin Holland—Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo leans Kevin Holland, acknowledging possible recency bias. He notes Holland's power, accuracy, and experience against top competition. He thinks Holland's size and striking could be the difference. He mentions the over 2.5 rounds as a potential bet and will monitor the line.
Big Brady picks Holland but with very low confidence, acknowledging Holland's poor fight IQ and tendency to strike instead of grapple. He notes Holland's advantages in size, reach, experience, and grappling, but expects Holland to strike and potentially get outpointed. He predicts Holland will hurt Della Maddalena on the feet and find a submission in the second round.
Cody also picks Kevin Holland, emphasizing the reach advantage and Holland's experience against top competition. He notes that Della Maddalena's ring IQ was questionable against Hafez, and that Holland's BJJ and durability make him a live dog. Cody believes Holland's power translates well at 170 and that Della Maddalena may struggle to get inside. He considers this a 'dog or pass' situation and likes the value.
Daniel Levi is confident in Jack Della Maddalena, having bet him at plus-100 earlier. He dismisses recency bias from Della's fight with Hafez, noting Hafez attempted 20 takedowns while Holland rarely wrestles. He believes Della's pressure and body work will overwhelm Holland, who struggles when pressured. Levi trusts Della's durability and sees this as a range battle where Della can cut off the cage and force Holland to fight going backward.
Holland has improved defensive grappling and a sniper-like striking game with range. Della Maddalena is a crisp boxer but struggled with wrestling in his last fight. Holland can use his jab and straight shots to keep distance, and may mix in grappling after learning from the Wonderboy fight. I think Holland has more paths to victory and will win a close decision, handing Della Maddalena his first UFC loss.
Paul picks Kevin Holland as an underdog, citing Holland's 8-inch reach advantage, better submission grappling, and improved wrestling at 170 lbs. He notes that Jack Della Maddalena's wins are against lower-level opponents and that he struggled with Basil Hafez's takedowns. Paul believes Holland's durability and power will be key, and that Della Maddalena may not find the same openings against a longer, more experienced fighter.
The MMA Guru picks Jack Della Maddalena over Kevin Holland, stating the odds were wrong to have him as an underdog. He believes Holland won't grapple, which benefits JDM's striking. He envisions Holland backed against the cage using a Philly shell and JDM landing a liver shot for a TKO. He notes Holland's weight cut to welterweight and JDM's power in his hands.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 4 of 11 | 36% | 6 of 13 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Michael Chiesa | 0 | 9 of 16 | 56% | 12 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:40 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 4 of 11 | 36% | 6 of 13 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Michael Chiesa | 0 | 9 of 16 | 56% | 12 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:40 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 4 of 11 | 36% | 4 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 7 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Michael Chiesa | 9 of 16 | 56% | 7 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 4 of 11 | 36% | 4 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 7 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Michael Chiesa | 9 of 16 | 56% | 7 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 2 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Holland (-145), Chiesa (+125)
Round 1
It has been over 22 months since “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 15 victor Chiesa (16-6, 11-6 UFC) has graced the cage, due to injuries. In the same span of time, his foe Holland (24-9, 1 NC; 11-6, 1 NC UFC) has fought five times. Both 170ers celebrate 11 UFC wins, but Chiesa joined the UFC in 2012 while Holland picked up his first victory with the promotion in late 2018. This quintessential striker vs. grappler affair will be overseen by referee Marc Goddard, and it opens up as the athletes touch gloves. Holland takes to the center of the cage immediately, and he keeps a low stance perhaps to stave off an early takedown effort. Holland works his way towards his opponent, using his long arm to reach out. He catches Chiesa early with multiple right hands and uppercuts, and Chiesa bounces off the cage wall and defends himself. Holland presses forward, and they clash together chest to chest. Holland hurls Chiesa to the mat on his back with emphasis, and he climbs on top before realizing he would be better suited on the feet. Chiesa tags him with a pair of uppercuts on the way up, and Holland walks him down, unconcerned by the power coming back at him. Holland smiles as Chiesa tries to close the distance, and he fights off a single-leg entry from “Maverick.” Holland defends it and puts his leg down on the floor, and he turns Chiesa around on the fence and starts talking to him. Holland miraculously defends from a body lock takedown, backs off and drills Chiesa with a jump knee. Holland pushes Chiesa back and belts him with a knee and a right hand. Chiesa leans over, and he eats a solid knee right on the chin. Chiesa drops to his knees, and he shoots for a double. Holland sees this coming from a mile away, and he instantly slides one arm beneath the armpit and another around the neck to secure a brabo choke. Holland uses the maneuver to turn Chiesa to his back, and the choke is still locked in tight. Chiesa tries to buck and shift his weight to get out of the submission, but “Trailblazer” is pressed tightly to him and not about to let go. With nowhere left to go, Chiesa taps out, and has now been submitted by these types of chokes three times in his UFC tenure. Holland leaps out of the cage and high-fives anyone that is willing to engage him, including the entire commentary booth as well as Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell. Holland declares that he plans on relocating back to the middleweight division, but he looked sensational at 170 pounds against a very tough opponent.
The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Michael Chiesa R1 2:39 via Submission (Brabo Choke)
Expert Picks (6)
Angelo picks Kevin Holland, citing his accurate and powerful striking, and the fact that Chiesa has been away from fighting and focused on commentary. He acknowledges Holland's poor takedown defense but thinks Chiesa's takedowns are not elite and that Holland's length and BJJ will be a problem. He has a half-unit bet on Holland at -145.
Big Brady picks Kevin Holland to win by second-round submission (club and sub). He argues that Holland's takedown defense issues were at middleweight, and at welterweight he should be more comfortable. He questions Chiesa's activity and focus, and notes Chiesa makes mistakes on the mat, having been submitted four times. He expects Holland to land a big shot or snatch a submission.
Cody picks Chiesa by decision, noting Chiesa's style is kryptonite for Holland if he can get takedowns. He acknowledges Chiesa's layoff and injury concerns but believes at his best he can grind out a decision. He took the prop at +340, which he considered off-market. He is not fully convinced but sees value.
James sees value on Chiesa as a dog, citing his clear grappling advantage over Holland, who struggles with takedown defense. He notes Chiesa will likely shoot multiple takedowns and control the fight on the ground. However, he also acknowledges Holland's knockout power and submission threat, making him hesitant to bet heavily.
Chiesa is a talented grappler who can close the distance and get the fight to the ground. Holland still has grappling issues and Chiesa will control him from top position. Holland's takedown defense improvements will be tested but I think Chiesa grinds out a decision. I'm going with Chiesa by decision.
Paul leans Holland, questioning whether Chiesa is still the same fighter after two years off and injuries. He notes Holland's BJJ black belt and improved wrestling with Johnny Hendricks. He thinks Holland can survive takedowns and win on the feet. However, he admits Chiesa's style is a threat and calls it a live betting situation.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 1 | 66 of 197 | 33% | 67 of 198 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | 0 | 44 of 104 | 42% | 44 of 104 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 29 of 70 | 41% | 29 of 70 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | 0 | 13 of 38 | 34% | 13 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 23 of 78 | 29% | 24 of 79 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | 0 | 15 of 43 | 34% | 15 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 | |
| 3 | Kevin Holland | 1 | 14 of 49 | 28% | 14 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | 0 | 16 of 23 | 69% | 16 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 66 of 197 | 33% | 24 of 138 | 11 of 23 | 31 of 36 | 62 of 187 | 2 of 6 | 2 of 4 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | 44 of 104 | 42% | 12 of 58 | 7 of 19 | 25 of 27 | 44 of 101 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 29 of 70 | 41% | 7 of 41 | 6 of 12 | 16 of 17 | 27 of 63 | 1 of 4 | 1 of 3 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | 13 of 38 | 34% | 2 of 20 | 2 of 8 | 9 of 10 | 13 of 36 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 23 of 78 | 29% | 11 of 61 | 3 of 5 | 9 of 12 | 22 of 76 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | 15 of 43 | 34% | 4 of 26 | 4 of 9 | 7 of 8 | 15 of 42 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Kevin Holland | 14 of 49 | 28% | 6 of 36 | 2 of 6 | 6 of 7 | 13 of 48 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | 16 of 23 | 69% | 6 of 12 | 1 of 2 | 9 of 9 | 16 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Holland (-245), Ponzinibbio (+205)
Round 1
Since making his promotional debut in August 2018, “Trailblazer” Holland (23-9, 1 NC; 10-6, 1 NC UFC) has competed in the Octagon a whopping 17 times to date. His 18th outing will come in a striker’s delight against Argentine slugger Ponzinibbio (29-6, 11-5 UFC), and bonus money may be up for grabs here. Referee Dan Miragliotta is charged up for this welterweight clash, and he will be watching out to make sure he does not take an errant strike. Ready to have fun, the two bump fists, and Holland backs off to find his range. Holland, with eight inches to his advantage on his hands, uses his similarly lanky legs to push off. Ponzinibbio sits down on a chopping leg kick to slow the movement of Holland down, to which Holland responds with a left hook and a jab. Ponzinibbio attacks the lead leg again, and Holland fires off a jab and a body kick. Ponzinibbio checks a kick, and he attacks the right leg a few times after Holland switches stances. Holland swats out with a left, and he counters when Ponzinibbio crashes the pocket. A Holland jab makes Ponzinibbio slip when the latter throws out a low kick, and he climbs back up without concern. Holland chops at the front leg of the Argentine fighter, and it gets checked. Holland whips a kick up high that careens off the guard, and he blocks a body kick. Holland stays active with punches and kicks, and he shoulder rolls and retreats when Ponzinibbio gives chase. They clash legs at the same time, and Holland opens up with three calf kicks. Holland springs into action with a darting jab, and changes his stances instead of following up and getting countered. Ponzinibbio winds up with a few haymaker right hands, and when he misses, Holland starts talking to him. Ponzinibbio just misses with a right hook, and Holland able to narrowly evade them and block a counter left. Four punches allow Ponzinibbio to partially get through the guard, and Holland lifts his leg up after getting kicked. Holland throws kicks from body legs, and Ponzinibbio catches it and looks to slug it out. Holland releases a backfist that knocks Ponzinibbio clean off his feet, and he drops down a few punches to a downed Ponzinibbio until the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Round 2
The welterweight clap hands to get the second round started, and Holland leads the dance and walks into a few leg kicks. “Trailblazer” sets up his jab, using his reach to back Ponzinibbio off. Holland sneaks in a low kick and blocks a high kick, and he just misses a huge left hand. Ponzinibbio steps in with an elbow, and he escapes before a counter finds him. Holland targets the knee wit ha stomp kick, and pushes off with the ball of his foot to the chest. Ponzinibbio misses the dome by a matter of inches with a huge left hand, and Holland kicks at him from both legs. Holland dips back to fire a left hand, and Ponzinibbio chew up his foe’s leg with kicks. The Texan walks his opponent down and absorbs a big right hand and a sweeping kick, and he swats out with a few lefts. Holland grins after dodging a huge left hand, and he takes a leg kick flush. Holland gets checked when kicking the calf, and Ponzinibbio catches another kick but is not back fisted this time. Ponzinibbio strings a few punches together, only for Holland to roll with them. Holland’s jab works well, and he keeps Ponzinibbio at bay but cannot stop the calf kicks. Holland stalks his opponent down, striking with front kicks and a right hand. Holland gets Ponzinibbio’s attention with a few right hands in a series, and Ponzinibbio clinches up with him to get his bearings. Holland allows this to knee his man in the jaw, and he pushes off to gain some space. Ponzinibbio swings with all his might with three looping punches, and Holland dodges all of them. Holland meets Ponzinibbio coming in with an elbow, and he makes Ponzinibbio hit nothing but air and looks to his imaginary watch to taunt his inaccurate opponent. The round ends after this motion.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Round 3
Before the third round opens, Holland talks to someone outside of the cage. When it does, Holland reaches out to clap hands, and Ponzinibbio obliges him. Holland strikes first with a kick, and he chops at the lead calf and is answered with two back. “Trainblazer” flicks out a few jabs, and he blocks a winging left hook but does not defend against a brutal kick that destabilizes his balance. Holland loads up on a few right hands and kicks the thigh, and he jumps into punches while struggling to put weight on his left leg. Holland switches stances, and Ponzinibbio greets him with a high kick on that side. A kick from Holland appears to get Ponzinibbio’s attention, who slips, and Holland motions to make sure his opponent is ok. Ponzinibbio is good to go, and he winds up with a powerful kick to the calf. Holland grits it out and spins with a wheel kick, and Ponzinibbio plants his feet and throws bombs. Holland walks into a vicious kick that almost buckles his knees, and he tosses out a front kick to keep Ponzinibbio honest. “Argentina Dagger” fires a kick to the other lead leg, and he checks the ones that come back his way. Holland gets clubbed with a left, and he side kicks the body. Holland catches a low kick and rings the bell with a right hand, and Ponzinibbio hops back and is in trouble. Holland races after him, and he unloads a left hook that would knock down a heavyweight. Ponzinibbio falls down to the ground, face-first, and Holland belts him with one single follow-up blow before Miragliotta jumps in to wave off the faceplanting knockout. Knowing his work is done, Holland jumps out of the cage and rushes over to White and Trump, where he tells them that he has a broken right hand. He climbs back in the cage, and tells Ponzinibbio that kicking him hurt his own feet. In his post-fight interview, Holland says that if Jorge Masvidal does not retire after tonight, he would like to challenge for the “BMF” title.
The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Santiago Ponzinibbio R3 3:16 via KO (Punch)
Expert Picks (9)
Angelo picks Kevin Holland but is avoiding bets because he wants to see how Holland looks after the Wonder Boy loss. He notes that Holland is a good grappler and accurate striker, but his takedown defense is poor. He thinks Holland should win, but Ponzinibbio is a good technical striker who could make it tough.
Big Brady picks Kevin Holland to win by knockout, citing Holland's durability and Ponzinibbio's recent decline. He notes that Ponzinibbio was hurt multiple times by Alex Morono and knocked out by Li Jingliang. He predicts a second-round KO, but admits he doesn't fully trust Holland due to his low fight IQ.
Cody also picks Ponzinibbio but is hesitant. He notes Holland's poor decision-making and the respect books give him, making the line too high. Cody points out Ponzinibbio's durability questions and age but sees value at +200. He mentions that Ponzinibbio is fighting in his backyard in Florida and that Holland's minus 235 price is disrespectful. Cody is not sure if he'll bet it but makes the pick for the show.
Connor picks Holland because Ponzinibbio has become a slow starter who gets hurt in every fight. Holland is fast, hits hard, and is fearless, so he will likely land a big shot early. Ponzinibbio may rally later, but his early deficits are too large to overcome. Connor notes that Holland's defense has deteriorated at welterweight, but his durability and confidence make him a tough out. He also mentions that Ponzinibbio's fragility is the real concern, as he gets hurt basically every fight now.
Jacob is confident in Kevin Holland, noting that the UFC gave him a winnable fight. He points out that Holland put Wonder Boy on skates in the first round, and if he lands those shots on Ponzinibbio, he will knock him out. He believes Holland is a better, longer, and more powerful striker, and will get the job done.
Holland has speed and power but is coming off a hand injury and fighting compromised. Ponzinibbio is slower post-layoff but still has veteran savvy and power. I think Holland's speed and power advantage will find Ponzinibbio's chin, but the hand injury is a major red flag. I prefer the fight doesn't go to decision prop over betting Holland straight.
Paul takes Ponzinibbio as a plus-money underdog, though hesitantly. He notes Ponzinibbio is always competitive against top welterweights, with close split decisions against Jeff Neal and Michel Pereira. Paul criticizes Kevin Holland's poor fight IQ, referencing the Stephen Thompson fight where Holland let him up. He believes Ponzinibbio, training in Florida with the crowd behind him, has a real chance. However, he acknowledges Ponzinibbio is 36 and may have declined.
The MMA Guru picks Kevin Holland to win by second-round TKO via straight right hand. He expects Ponzinibbio to have success early with leg kicks and jabs, but Holland will time a right hand as Ponzinibbio throws a kick, rocking him badly. He predicts Holland will finish with ground and pound in round two around the three-minute mark.
Zane picks Holland because Ponzinibbio starts slow and has become fragile. Holland will be aggressive and throw hammers, and Ponzinibbio won't be able to catch up early. Zane notes that Ponzinibbio can still rally and has diverse striking, but his early deficits are too much. He also mentions that Holland's gas tank and hand injury are concerns, but Ponzinibbio's inability to start fast is the deciding factor.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Thompson | 0 | 163 of 260 | 62% | 178 of 278 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:47 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 119 of 210 | 56% | 123 of 214 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:21 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stephen Thompson | 0 | 34 of 47 | 72% | 38 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 49 of 70 | 70% | 52 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:27 | |
| 2 | Stephen Thompson | 0 | 38 of 67 | 56% | 40 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 33 of 66 | 50% | 33 of 66 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:06 | |
| 3 | Stephen Thompson | 0 | 43 of 76 | 56% | 48 of 81 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 25 of 50 | 50% | 25 of 50 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 | |
| 4 | Stephen Thompson | 0 | 48 of 70 | 68% | 52 of 77 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:37 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 12 of 24 | 50% | 13 of 25 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:32 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Thompson | 163 of 260 | 62% | 103 of 192 | 42 of 49 | 18 of 19 | 150 of 241 | 13 of 19 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 119 of 210 | 56% | 52 of 131 | 23 of 29 | 44 of 50 | 97 of 187 | 22 of 23 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stephen Thompson | 34 of 47 | 72% | 21 of 31 | 8 of 10 | 5 of 6 | 31 of 44 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 49 of 70 | 70% | 22 of 39 | 11 of 13 | 16 of 18 | 37 of 57 | 12 of 13 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Stephen Thompson | 38 of 67 | 56% | 25 of 53 | 10 of 11 | 3 of 3 | 36 of 64 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 33 of 66 | 50% | 16 of 45 | 4 of 5 | 13 of 16 | 28 of 61 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Stephen Thompson | 43 of 76 | 56% | 34 of 66 | 6 of 7 | 3 of 3 | 41 of 71 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 25 of 50 | 50% | 9 of 32 | 4 of 5 | 12 of 13 | 23 of 48 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Stephen Thompson | 48 of 70 | 68% | 23 of 42 | 18 of 21 | 7 of 7 | 42 of 62 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 12 of 24 | 50% | 5 of 15 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 9 of 21 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Holland (-155), Thompson (+135)
Round 1
Less than two months removed from his UFC 279 co-headliner against Khamzat Chimaev, Holland (23-8, 1 NC; 10-5, 1 NC UFC) is back in action again, this time as the main attraction. Getting back to welterweight after that awkward 180-pound switcheroo, this will be fight number four this year for “Trailblazer” compared to the first in 2022 for Thompson (16-6-1, 11-6-1 UFC). One of these two will turn things around and return to the win column at night’s end, and it could be the recently aged 30-year-old Holland or soon-to-be 40 “Wonderboy.” Referee Dan Miragliotta is on the call for this striker’s delight, and the two men who enjoyed one another’s company greatly this week touch ‘em up to commence the final fight of the night. When Thompson kicks, Holland does too. Holland charges recklessly, forcing Thompson to retreat and attempt to counter. Holland’s forward blitz leads to a clinch, and he starts talking to his opponent to tell him to let him go. Thompson obliges and scores a low kick, and he counters Holland over the top with a right hand. Holland ends up closing in with a clinch when trying to surge forward, and Thompson pushes him away and nails Holland with a serious left hand. Holland shakes it off and reaches out with side kicks, and a blow from Holland has opened a cut on the corner of Thompson’s left eye. Holland comes out throwing caution to the wind and engaging wildly, and Thompson is there to brawl and catch him with quicker strikes. Holland gets blasted with another left hand and grins, and he leaps forward to attack. The lunging strikes from Holland open him up to counters, and Holland grins and runs forward to unleash a ferocious overhand right that rocks the karateka. Holland backs his man up to the wall and starts to do work on him, but Thompson pushes off and shakes out the cobwebs. As Holland re-engages, Thompson meets him with a left hand and a speedy head kick. Holland is thrilled by the exchanges, smiling and having a blast, and Thompson is enjoying himself as well. Holland runs forward with a back fist, and “Wonderboy” knocks him back wit ha left. As Thompson fires off a hook kick, Holland times a chopping kick to knock Thompson to the floor. The former title challenger lines up a left hand that rings Holland’s bell, but Holland no-sells the move and allows Thompson to chase him down. They mimic one another’s side stances, and Thompson is there to catch his advancing opponent. Holland fires off a pair of body kick after sprinting at his man, and Thompson responds in kind. Holland lands a few punches to the body, and the horn sounds. The two welterweights high five after an exciting and fun round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Round 2
The fighters are ready and rearing to go to start off the second round, and they clap hands to initiate the proceedings. Thompson slaps a kick low, and Holland does the same. Thompson skips forward with a straight left hand, but Holland sees it coming and evades it. He does not, however, get out of the way from a high kick that slams him square in the face. Holland takes it on the jaw without budging, a kick that would fell lesser men, and stands firm until Thompson blitzes him. Holland escapes the worse of the damage and tries his own attack, and Thompson escapes in time. Leg kicks are traded fast and furiously, and Holland steps into strike and is countered on the way in. The alternating straight rushes lead to thrilling exchanges, and Thompson boots Holland in the face once more. Thompson pushes the pace and belts Holland with a long series of punches, and Holland fires back but gets rocked and bounces into the wall. Thompson lets him off the hook and does not blow his gas tank, and instead trades head kicks when Holland is ready to come back fighting. Holland counters a body kick with an overhand left, and Thompson checks a low kick. Thompson just misses with a hook kick, and Holland gives chase and walks into two straight punches. “Trailblazer” blazes forward and uses Thompson’s lunges to his advantage and tackles Thompson to the floor. Instead of playing on the ground, Holland stands back up, and invites Thompson to stand back up so they can keep throwing heavy leather. Thompson thanks him for this with a happy glove touch, and he spins with a wheel kick that just pushes past the hair. Thompson doles out a few more solid left hands and head kick, and Holland advances recklessly and puts his hands on his opponent as well. Holland knocks the karateka back and might have hurt him, but Thompson recovers and runs after Holland to lay into him as well. Thompson unleashes a spinning wheel kick that smashes into the head of his foe, and Holland wobbles back as Thompson gives him all he has. Holland tries to throw back with haymakers, and he does enough to make Thompson second-guess his approach. The terrific second frame comes to an end as Holland swings so hard, he falls over.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Thompson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Thompson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Thompson
Round 3
The welterweights are grinning from ear to ear, and they high five. Holland tells Thompson to slow down, and Thompson answers him with a high kick and whiffs with a hook kick. Holland jumps forward to break up the stance of his foe, and he settles for a body kick and one to the calf. Thompson whips a kick to the side, and he goes up top as Holland rolls with it and barely evades the worst of it. Thompson scores two solid left hands as Holland attempts to enter the pocket, and they trade kicks as well. Holland pushes forward to strike, and they fall over with another possible tackling takedown from “Trailblazer.” Thompson fights his way up, and they clap hands as they still do not want to take a breath and grapple. When they resume, Thompson lands a side kick and a second knocks Holland off his feet. Thompson lets him back up as well, and they high-five once more. Holland unleashes a low kick, and Thompson is sharper and more elusive as Holland’s hands go wide. Holland wings a head kick, and Thompson answers with a pair of punches and a spinning kick. A second spinning wheel kick misses the mark by a matter of inches, and Holland crashes forward and gets popped with a short left hook. Holland kicks low and swipes high, and Thompson blitzes him and scores a few times over the top. Holland charges, leading with elbows, and they wind up in a clinch that allows Thompson to knee his man in the side a few times. Thompson breaks free and fires off a few punches, and he reaches Holland at the end of a right hand that knocks the head back. Holland appears to be fading, and the punches from Thompson are doing more damage as he pours it on. Holland backs himself up to the wall, and he keeps a high guard up and takes several deep breaths. Holland comes out swinging, and Thompson meets him there and starts unloading on him. Holland takes everything on the chin, and he eats a spinning wheel kick and barely moves. Thompson keeps a bounce in his step, and he spins with another wheel kick. “Trailblazer” comes forward to strike, but he pulls back with his right hand. As the round ends, he walks away looking at the hand, which might be injured.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Thompson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Thompson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Thompson
Round 4
The championship rounds have arrived, and Holland puts on a poker face and smiles to engage. Thompson starts off with a slapping calf kick, and he pushes off the side of his heel on the chest. When Holland advances, Thompson cracks him with a hook kick, and Holland wears it incredibly well and walks Thompson down to throw hands. A tiring Holland ties Thompson up, and Miragliotta does not need much time before splitting them. Miragliotta does acknowledge that they did clash heads when closing in, which opened up a cut on the bridge of the nose. Thompson splits up and kicks the body, and this liver shot forces an immediate takedown out of his opponent. Holland does not complete it, and Thompson stands back and belts him in the liver one more time. Holland reels and charges for a takedown, and Thompson stops it and stands him up to work on his midsection. Thompson throws a right hand on the beltline, and Holland leans over and Miragliotta waves the fight off. As Holland protests, Miragliotta un-calls the fight and claims it was an accidental groin strike. Holland recovers, whether it was a foul or not, and they resume the action unexpectedly. Thompson knows his man is on the ropes and he kicks the liver twice, and spins with a wheel kick with a heel that drills right into the temple. Holland is hurt but still surviving, throwing a few punches but largely getting wrecked. “Wonderboy” aims two head kicks that do serious damage, and Holland absorbs another spinning wheel kick as Thompson is styling on him. Holland motions for him to come close to him to strike, and Thompson obliges with several punches and a low kick. Thompson fires a side kick to the liver and one to the upper chest, and he is teeing off on the wounded Holland. Holland is little more than a heavy bag at this point, as Thompson takes one or two back for every dozen or so. Thompson swings a spinning wheel kick that nearly knocks “Trailblazer” off his feet, but Holland not only survives, he throws back with a vengeance. Thompson takes several on the jaw and backs off, and he measures his damaged adversary with long kicks and punches. Thompson lines up a left hand that drops Holland to a knee, and he moves into the top position and lands a few punches. Instead of trying to finish the job, Thompson stands up, lets Holland get up, and walks off. The round ends. Holland again walks back to his corner, battered and bruised, and he signals to his team that his right hand is in dire trouble. It does not take more than a few seconds for Holland’s corner to inform Miragliotta that their fighter is done, and they call off the fight. It might seem like an anticlimactic ending to a sensational and dramatic battle, but Holland’s team allows him to live to fight another day. This battle will definitely go down among the greatest fights of this year, with 20 minutes of bloody violence and terrific skill crackling with intensity on display. Jiri Prochazka vs. Glover Teixeira might be challenged for the top spot after this titanic scrap.
In his post-fight interview, “Wonderboy” says he feels 25, and he is in it for the long haul. At 39 years young after a fight like that, Thompson proves he is still a factor in the welterweight division. It’s anyone’s guess what is next for the all-star karateka, as he showed he has plenty of life left in his veins. When he competes again, we will certainly be here for it. We hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Thompson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Thompson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Thompson
The Official Result
Stephen Thompson def. Kevin Holland R4 5:00 via TKO (Corner Stoppage)
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Stephen Thompson but is hesitant due to Thompson's age (39). He thinks Thompson is the better overall striker with incredible footwork, but notes the fight is basically a pick'em, so he won't bet the moneyline. He plans to wait for props, possibly betting Kevin Holland inside the distance or decision no action, because Holland is younger and dangerous. He expects Thompson to win but won't risk moneyline on a 39-year-old.
Big Brady picks Holland to win by knockout in the second or third round, citing Holland's youth (nine years younger), height, reach, power, durability, and Thompson's age (39) and layoff. He notes Thompson has been knocked down multiple times and Holland has never been knocked out. He also mentions Holland may mix in takedowns.
Cody agrees with Paul and provides extensive reasoning. He highlights that Holland's path to victory is to fight in a way he never does, while Thompson's karate style, output, and five-round experience favor him. He notes Thompson's takedown defense is a weakness but doubts Holland will exploit it. He also mentions the line moving towards Holland as a reason to take Thompson now.
Daniel Levi picks Kevin Holland to knock out Stephen Thompson. He notes Thompson's age (approaching 40), suspect chin, and history of being dropped (by Ellenberger, Woodley, Till). He believes Holland's straight right will find the opening and that Holland closes the show when he hurts opponents. He also mentions Thompson's submission defense is good but that Holland's reach and power are key.
The host leans towards Thompson, noting that Thompson is a superior striker and should have the advantage in a striking match. He mentions that Thompson's karate style and ability to hit without getting hit will be key. However, he is cautious about Thompson's age and the possibility of Holland using grappling. He would prefer a better price on Thompson (plus 150) before betting.
Paul sees this as a 50/50 fight but likes Thompson at plus money. He notes Thompson's five-round experience and thinks Holland won't shoot takedowns effectively. He believes Thompson can edge out a decision or even finish if Holland gets frustrated. He also mentions the under 4.5 rounds as a possibility.
The MMA Guru picks Kevin Holland, citing Thompson's lack of a backup plan if he faces trouble on the feet. He notes Holland can mix in grappling and has a reach advantage. He predicts Holland will use his goofy style to catch Thompson off guard and finish him by d'arce choke in round three.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khamzat Chimaev | 0 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 of 2 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 2 | 0 | 1:56 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 of 0 | 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 | Khamzat Chimaev | 0 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 of 2 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 2 | 0 | 1:56 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khamzat Chimaev | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khamzat Chimaev | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
The co-main event is now a five-round fight, courtesy of the enormous weight miss from Chimaev (11-0, 5-0 UFC). Clocking in 7.5 pounds above the welterweight limit, Chimaev lost his main event opportunity and may have taken a step back in the 170-pound hierarchy, but he will get to settle a score against Holland (23-7, 1 NC; 10-4, 1 NC UFC). The likelihood of this 180-pound catchweight fight reaching the final bell is quite low, as the odds for the fight going the distance are high in the plus-money territory at +240. Referee Herb Dean takes a deep breath and tries to keep the two from throwing down before the fight actually begins, and if you put money on there being no glove touch, throw your ticket away, because they actually do. In two seconds, Chimaev darts in for a takedown. Holland scrambles wildly, and “Trailblazer” does a practical cartwheel to escape it. As they keep moving, Chimaev briefly winds up on top, and Holland eventually settles to close his guard. Holland dodges to the side when punches drop down, and deafening chants for “USA” rain down. Holland throws his legs up for a possible submission, and he threatens enough to allow him to stand up. Chimaev hits a high-effort mat return, and he sets up a brabo choke on the way down. Holland turns to his knees, and he uses his legs to push off the knees of his opponent to push out of it. Chimaev releases his grip and settles it on the other side, and Holland steps over to the other side only to get rolled over. Holland, on his side, is getting followed by the Swede, and Chimaev is squeezing for all he's worth. “Borz” moves to get on top with the choke, and Holland has no choice but to tap out before he goes out. Chimaev sits on top of his defeated opponent, with Dean intervening, and he appears to scream at Holland, but it is one that is more celebratory than hostile. The bad blood that stemmed from the press conference scuffle appears to have been squashed, as Holland reluctantly hugs it out with his triumphant opponent. In his victorious post-fight interview, Chimaev claims that he does not care about missing weight, but commentator Joe Rogan presses him on the issue. Chimaev yells that he plans on “killing everybody” and that the doctor is to blame for stopping the cut. He claims he is willing to die in the cage, and the crowd drowns him out with boos. Chimaev is still undefeated at 12-0, with 11 finishes under his belt, and he did not absorb a single strike in yet another performance.
The Official Result
Khamzat Chimaev def. Kevin Holland R1 2:13 via Submission (Brabo Choke)
Expert Picks (8)
Angelo picks Khamzat Chimaev, stating he will win whether he grapples or stands. He thinks Chimaev's wrestling will destroy Holland, and if he stands, he will touch Holland up and cause a TKO. He notes the odds are heavily in Chimaev's favor and expects a dominant performance.
Big Brady picks Khamzat Chimaev to win by second-round TKO, calling the fight unfair. He notes Chimaev can win anywhere: striking (he hits harder than Masvidal) or wrestling (Nate Diaz has poor takedown defense). He expects Chimaev to take Diaz down, hurt him with ground-and-pound, and possibly get a doctor stoppage. He dismisses Diaz's chances outside of a fluke.
Cody is leaning towards the underdog Daniel Rodriguez, noting that Rodriguez has high volume and is hittable, but that Holland has a reach advantage and better cardio. He mentions that Holland's over 50.5 significant strikes is a reasonable prop, but he is not ready to pull the trigger on a bet yet, waiting for weigh-ins. He picks Rodriguez for the show.
Daniel Levi picks Li Jingliang to defeat Tony Ferguson. He notes Ferguson's decline, having lost four straight and been knocked out badly by Chandler. Levi believes Li's power and Ferguson's deteriorating chin and wrestling defense will lead to a knockout. He acknowledges his poor betting history on Li but still sees Li as the clear winner due to Ferguson's washed-up state.
Jacob picks Chimaev but focuses on the round prop, predicting a first-round finish. He thinks Chimaev will try to prove a point by finishing the durable Nate Diaz early, using relentless ground and pound. He believes the ref will stop it due to carnage, and he is playing the under on rounds.
The host is extremely confident in Khamzat Chimaev, expecting him to take Nate Diaz down immediately and smash him on the ground. He dismisses Diaz's durability and jiu-jitsu, citing Chimaev's wrestling and size. He took under 1.5 rounds at +120 and suggests Chimaev round one at +165.
Paul picks Kevin Holland, citing his move to 170 as more natural and his improved wrestling. He believes Holland will be bigger and stronger, able to keep the fight standing, and that his cardio and output will carry him to a win in a competitive fight. He expects Holland to pull away down the stretch.
The MMA Guru picks Khamzat Chimaev to win by first-round rear-naked choke. He describes Chimaev running across the cage, throwing a massive punch and front kick, pressuring Holland against the cage. After faking takedowns, Chimaev shoots, gets double underhooks, takes the back, and lands big punches. Holland scrambles but Chimaev gets both hooks in, cranks on an arm triangle, then chokes Holland out when he gives up his neck.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 21 of 46 | 45% | 25 of 52 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 1:30 |
| Tim Means | 0 | 36 of 90 | 40% | 53 of 109 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:09 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 14 of 34 | 41% | 18 of 40 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:30 |
| Tim Means | 0 | 27 of 70 | 38% | 44 of 89 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 7 of 12 | 58% | 7 of 12 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Tim Means | 0 | 9 of 20 | 45% | 9 of 20 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:07 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 21 of 46 | 45% | 8 of 25 | 11 of 17 | 2 of 4 | 20 of 45 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Tim Means | 36 of 90 | 40% | 26 of 71 | 3 of 9 | 7 of 10 | 33 of 85 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 14 of 34 | 41% | 7 of 22 | 6 of 10 | 1 of 2 | 13 of 33 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Tim Means | 27 of 70 | 38% | 21 of 57 | 2 of 6 | 4 of 7 | 24 of 65 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 7 of 12 | 58% | 1 of 3 | 5 of 7 | 1 of 2 | 7 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Tim Means | 9 of 20 | 45% | 5 of 14 | 1 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 9 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Holland (-275), Means (+220)
Round 1
With the loss of Cerrone vs. Lauzon (again), this welterweight banger has been elevated to the co-main event slot. UFC President Dana White should keep his checkbook handy to write out a bonus for this one (and the rest of the night, to boot), if the histories of “The Dirty Bird” Means (32-12-1, 1 NC; 14-9, 1 NC UFC) and “Trailblazer” Holland (22-7, 1 NC; 9-4, 1 NC UFC) are any indication of what to expect now. Identical knockout rates of 59% are celebrated by both men, and they have both landed exactly five submissions to their credit as well. Good-spirited action and excitement is about to come, and referee Kerry Hatley practically has to keep them back in their corners before sprinting out to battle. The 170ers do touch gloves, and Means uses a push kick to the knee to back Holland away from him early. Holland paws out with a left over the head, and Means walks in to brawl. Holland steps back and rips a left to the jaw on the inside, and he lands again to force Means into a double-leg takedown attempt. The crowd starts to boo immediately, and Holland shoves him back and lets go with a left. Holland powers off the cage wall with a flurry of fists, and Means greets him with a few of his own. Means takes a few punches on the inside to land a few, and “Trailblazer” slashes with a clean elbow over the top to break them up. Holland goes to the body with a side kick and then up high with a head kick, and he charges in with a knee right down Broadway. Means is tough and does not flinch, and instead spins with a wheel kick. Means catches a knee from his opponent, and he lifts Holland up and sets him down on the mat. Holland springs up and connects with three blistering punches to sting Means. Means tries to stop the blows from scoring by tying Holland up and pressing him into the wall, and he gathers himself and works the thigh with knees. Holland pushes away to take the center of the cage back, and he sticks out several jabs and a head kick. Means blows his nose out from the kick, and Holland puts three punches on him to knock Means’ head around. They talk to one another with seemingly friendly banter about hitting each other, and Holland takes a few steps back to get off three kicks in rapid succession. Holland chains together a few punches, and Means replies and draws a huge smile out of “Trailblazer.” They slug it out recklessly and entertainingly, and Holland resets first so he can let loose with a high kick. Holland splits the guard with a left hand, and Means is hurt. Two more punches from the Texan connect cleanly, forcing a takedown effort from Means. Holland hits the mat and powers right back up, and the round ends in the clinch.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Round 2
Gloves get touched by the action-packed welterweights before engaging, and they both score side kicks to start off the round. Means targets the body, and Holland tags him with four or five punches before Means can react. Holland spins with a back fist that comes up short, and when he turns about, Holland goes to his lead leg. Means blocks several punches, and Holland swarms him with punches before measuring Means with punches as Means shells up against the wall ready to counter.
Holland lets Means off the hook so that he can fight at his safer range, and when back in his preferred distance, he clocks Means with a right hand that strips Means legs away almost instantly. Before falling over, Means leans into a takedown try, but he leaves his neck exposed. They do not even hit the mat before Holland uses his long arms to snake around the neck, where he snatches up a smooth brabo choke. It is tight in a hurry, and when the two land on the ground, Means turns to his side but is in even worse position than before. Knowing his goose is cooked, Means does not fight it any further or risk going out from this blood choke, and he wisely surrenders.
“Trailblazer” has announced himself as a force to be reckoned with in his new division, and the Texas crowd bellows its affection for its local fighter.
The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Tim Means R2 1:28 via Submission (Brabo Choke)
Expert Picks (6)
Angelo picks Kevin Holland, noting his striking accuracy and power. He acknowledges Holland's poor takedown defense but believes Tim Means doesn't have the raw athleticism or power to exploit it like others. He thinks the 3-to-1 odds are crazy but still picks Holland.
Big Brady picks Kevin Holland to win by second-round knockout. He notes Holland has a significant reach advantage and power, while Means is older with diminishing durability and chin. He believes Means' best chance is grappling, but Means rarely implements that game plan, and Holland's BJJ black belt and improved get-up game should keep the fight standing where Holland can knock him out.
Cody is high on Kevin Holland at 170, citing his improved takedown defense, BJJ black belt, and size advantage. He thinks Tim Means lacks the wrestling and cardio to exploit Holland, and Holland will chip away for a late finish or decision. He notes Holland's guard is active and Means' recent wins are over lower-level competition.
Daniel Levi picks Kevin Holland to win via an opportunistic finish, citing Holland's unorthodox style and ability to create chaos. He acknowledges Tim Means is well-rounded and may have early success, but believes Holland's length and creativity will prevail. However, he is not confident Holland covers the -300 spread, noting Holland's takedown defense issues and that Means can mix in takedowns. Levi sees it as a high-variance fight where Holland finds a way, but the price is too steep for a comfortable bet.
Paul agrees Holland should win but is wary of the -275 price. He notes Holland's size, reach, and guard are advantages, but the high favorite line gives him pause. He doesn't love the matchup for Means but isn't sure he'll bet Holland at that price.
The MMA Guru picks Kevin Holland, calling it straightforward. He notes Holland's reach advantage and youth, and believes Tim Means will get cracked and hurt. He predicts Holland will win by KO via elbows in the clinch in the first round, similar to his win over Anthony Hernandez. He doesn't worry about Holland's grappling at welterweight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 1 | 50 of 76 | 65% | 51 of 77 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Alex Oliveira | 0 | 21 of 44 | 47% | 21 of 44 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 | 0 | 0:22 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 31 of 50 | 62% | 31 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Alex Oliveira | 0 | 19 of 39 | 48% | 19 of 39 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 | 0 | 0:22 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 1 | 19 of 26 | 73% | 20 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Alex Oliveira | 0 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 50 of 76 | 65% | 24 of 48 | 3 of 5 | 23 of 23 | 34 of 52 | 0 of 1 | 16 of 23 |
| Alex Oliveira | 21 of 44 | 47% | 6 of 28 | 7 of 8 | 8 of 8 | 20 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 31 of 50 | 62% | 7 of 24 | 3 of 5 | 21 of 21 | 30 of 48 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Alex Oliveira | 19 of 39 | 48% | 6 of 25 | 6 of 7 | 7 of 7 | 18 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 19 of 26 | 73% | 17 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 22 |
| Alex Oliveira | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Many expect that this welterweight scrap on the docket now is a sure-fire “Fight of the Night” candidate, as both Holland (21-7, 1 NC; 8-4, 1 NC UFC) and Oliveira (22-11-1, 2 NC; 11-9, 1 NC UFC) love to put on a show. Both men had no issue making the 171-pound limit, and they appear to be fired up and excited to get after it. Referee Chris Tognoni wrangles them long enough to get them to stand behind their respective black lines, and when the fight begins, they rush together to touch gloves. Holland leads the dance with a low kick that connects and a high kick that whizzes past the head of “Cowboy.” Holland connects with another leg kick, drawing a reaction from Oliveira and a response with one of his own. Holland scores a third low kick to the calf, and he just misses when Oliveira wings a big right hook at him. Holland continues to chip away from the outside, and Oliveira catches him on the way in with a right hand counter that knocks “Trailblazer” off his feet. Holland is able to jump back up to his feet and block a flying knee that soars towards him, and he gets back to poking with calf kicks. Holland lunges forward with a right hand, and Oliveira is right there to return fire with a swiping right hook. The punches from Oliveira make Holland lean off-balance. Holland gets cracked with a right hand as he advances, and when he falls to the ground, he laces his legs up for a leglock. Oliveira is able to step out of danger, and he lifts Holland up and slams him down to the mat. Holland is able to scramble away, and he blasts “Cowboy” in the face with a crisp right hand that puts the Brazilian on rubber legs. Not one to shy away from a brawl, Oliveira swings right back and gets Holland’s respect with a few power shots that make Holland’s rear leg lock up for a second. Both men gather themselves and get back to kickboxing range, where Holland is comfortable working with leg kicks and away from the swinging punches that whiz at him. Oliveira chops down Holland’s lead leg with a kick that is much heavier than the ones Holland are throwing, and Holland does a twirl and comes back out swinging. Holland kicks low, and he has it checked, but it seems to have affected Oliveira as well. Oliveira tries to grab the kick, but when it lands, he throws back at Holland. Holland spins from the kick, and he gets snagged against from the Brazilian. In a ridiculous scramble, Oliveira takes his foe’s back and cinches up a rear-naked choke. Instead of being concerned at all, “Trailblazer” motions to thumbs-up signs from each hand to the camera, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Oliveira
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Oliveira
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Oliveira
Round 2
The hands get touched to start off the second round, and Oliveira appears to come out limping. Despite this, Oliveira charges ahead with a low kick, and he gets clipped with a small right hand counter. Holland smells blood, and he races out drop hammers on his wounded opponent. The knees of “Cowboy” give way beneath him and he crumbles to the mat, and Holland can see the finish line and delivers a brutal salvo of punches to end the fight. As Oliveira flails and protects himself from harm, Holland switches to elbows and smashes them in his adversary’s face one after the other. Unleashing the thunder, Holland gives it everything he has to record the finish, and Tognoni jumps in to pull Holland off of a wrecked “Cowboy.” There is no ill will between the two after the furious five-plus minutes of ferocity, and they hug it out to celebrate a hard-fought battle.
The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Alex Oliveira R2 0:38 via TKO (Elbows)
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Kevin Holland, noting his improved takedown defense and dedication to wrestling. He thinks Oliveira's leg kicks are dangerous but Holland's hands will be the difference. He expects Oliveira to stay on his feet, allowing Holland to settle into a rhythm and let his hands fly. He calls it potential fight of the night.
Big Brady picks Kevin Holland to win, likely by submission. He notes that Oliveira is on a three-fight skid and appears to be slowing down at 34, while Holland is younger and motivated. Brady believes Holland's BJJ black belt will be a threat if Oliveira attempts takedowns, as Oliveira has been submitted six times. He also thinks Holland's striking and reach advantage will be key, though he questions Holland's fight IQ. Brady is comfortable picking Holland but not laying -300 on him.
Cody likes Holland's striking advantage and reach, and believes his improved wrestling from training with Johny Hendricks will help him stay on the feet. He notes Oliveira is not a chain wrestler and has poor cardio, while Holland has good jiu-jitsu off his back. Cody has Holland in a parlay with Covington and also likes the submission prop at +800.
Daniel Levi picks Kevin Holland to win by submission. He notes that Holland has a massive size and reach advantage at 170, and that Oliveira's best days are behind him. He expects Oliveira to shoot a sloppy takedown and get caught in a choke. He also mentions that Holland has been working on his grappling and has submission wins. He parlayed Holland with Paddy Pimblett for two units.
Holland's striking is pristine at range, and the drop to 170 should help his takedown defense against smaller opponents. Oliveira has cardio issues and a tendency to give up. Holland will likely stay safe, avoid Oliveira's leg kicks and wrestling, and find a knockout in the later rounds. Oliveira's wild style could cause problems early, but Holland's conditioning and skill should prevail.
Paul dismisses the trap-line narrative, arguing Holland's wrestling has improved significantly since the Brunson and Vettori fights. He highlights Holland's training with Johny Hendricks and his performance against Kyle Daukaus, where he defended takedowns well. Paul notes Oliveira is not a high-volume wrestler and has a three-fight losing streak, while Holland is big and durable. He also mentions a standing guillotine as a potential finish.
The MMA Guru calls Kevin Holland a lock over Alex Oliveira, citing Oliveira's decreased durability since a grenade attack and his tendency to slow down in fights. He believes Holland's youth, durability, and scrappiness will overwhelm Oliveira, predicting a second-round TKO. He notes that Oliveira has been chinned easily recently and that Holland's weight cut to welterweight should be manageable.
Oct 02, 2021
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 3 of 7 | 42% | 24 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:04 |
| Kyle Daukaus | 0 | 9 of 13 | 69% | 19 of 25 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 3 | 0 | 2:10 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 3 of 7 | 42% | 24 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:04 |
| Kyle Daukaus | 0 | 9 of 13 | 69% | 19 of 25 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 3 | 0 | 2:10 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 3 of 7 | 42% | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyle Daukaus | 9 of 13 | 69% | 5 of 9 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 3 of 5 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 3 of 7 | 42% | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyle Daukaus | 9 of 13 | 69% | 5 of 9 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 3 of 5 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
In the co-main event, two middleweights who have struggled as of late in Holland (21-7, 8-4 UFC) and Daukaus (10-2, 1-2 UFC) will pair off in hopes of staying afloat on the ever-growing roster. Their finish rates are 1% apart, with Holland preferring the knockout while all of Daukaus’ wins inside the distance have come by submission, most of which from a brabo choke. Can Daukaus give Holland fits on the ground, or has “Trailblazer” ironed out those deficiencies? Like referee Dan Miragliotta, we are about to find out after the two touch gloves. Holland begins with a slapping low kick, and he darts forward with a big right hand. Daukaus responds with a few right hands, and he charges in for a takedown try. Holland is ready for it, and he gets pushed to the fence and possibly kneed low. Holland keeps himself upright as he starts talking to the commentary team, and he smiles and boxes Daukaus’ ears. Holland gets dragged to a knee, but he pops back up without concern. Daukaus looks to trip him down, and “Trailblazer” keeps his balance and starts talking more trash. Holland breaks free and finds himself in submission danger when Daukaus pulls for a standing guillotine choke. Holland provides humorous commentary to commentator Daniel Cormier’s commentary, making himself laugh while punching his foe in the side. Daukaus holds on in this stalemate position as neither can advance, and Holland stomps the toes several times until Miragliotta breaks them up.
Holland gets off a one-two, and when he leans forward to strike, the two clash heads and Holland falls forward to the ground in a heap. Miragliotta calls for a replay and Daukaus hunts for a brabo choke that he turns into a guillotine. Holland gets back to his knees and stands up, but Daukaus is on his back and he snares a rear-naked choke. The choke is incredibly tight, and Holland grimaces and taps out.
There is immediate controversy as Holland was clearly compromised by the clash of heads. There is no bad blood, as they hug it out while the referees and commission officials talk over the next steps. Replay official Herb Dean informs Miragliotta that he could assign the result as a no contest depending on how he feels and reviews the sequence. A lengthy period of confusion follows, and Holland asks for them to run it back no matter the final result. Daukaus is fine with this. It appears that this fight will not be a win for Daukaus, and it is good for the fighters involved that instant replay has been implemented.
The Official Result
Kyle Daukaus vs. Kevin Holland is ruled a No Contest (Accidental Clash of Heads) R1 3:43
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Kyle Daukaus, believing his grappling will be enough to take down Kevin Holland, who has shown zero takedown defense. He notes that Daukaus is a very good grappler with solid jiu-jitsu, while Holland is a sniper on his feet with good BJJ but no wrestling. Angelo thinks Daukaus will stick to a game plan, get the fight to the ground, and control from there. He likes Daukaus at plus 120 moneyline and in DraftKings at $7,700. He hates the monkey knife fight line and will not touch it.
Big Brady picks Kevin Holland to win by knockout, seeing this as a good bounce-back spot. He notes Holland's losses came against elite wrestlers (Marvin Vettori, Derek Brunson) who are far better than Daukaus. Daukaus has poor striking defense (39%) and is very hittable, while Holland is a black belt himself and has shown good grappling against Gerald Meerschaert. Brady thinks Holland will stuff takedowns or get back up, and on the feet it's night and day. He predicts a knockout due to Daukaus's poor striking defense.
Cody picks Daukaus as a dog, citing Holland's poor takedown defense and mental fragility. He notes that Holland has shown no ability to keep fights standing and gets taken down easily, even by mediocre wrestlers. Daukaus has good grappling and should be able to take Holland down and control him on the ground. He also mentions that Holland's long frame makes it hard for him to scramble back to his feet.
Daniel Levi picks Kevin Holland, believing he is in a different class than Kyle Daukaus. He acknowledges Holland's wrestling issues exposed by top-five opponents but thinks Daukaus is not at that level to exploit them. Levi notes Daukaus is tough and durable but expects Holland's dynamic striking and reach to be too much. He suggests the line is a discount due to Holland's recent losses and that he would be a bigger favorite otherwise.
I'm staying away from this fight. Holland has huge grappling holes, but Daukaus isn't a great wrestler either. I think the over 2.5 rounds is interesting because both guys are durable and it might be a low-output fight. I don't have a strong pick either way.
Paul leans towards Holland but dislikes the -160 price. He acknowledges Holland's advantages on the feet but is concerned about his takedown defense and mental lapses. He notes that Daukaus is not a world-class wrestler but should be able to get the fight to the ground. He ultimately does not make a firm pick but seems to favor the dog.
The MMA Guru picks Kevin Holland, citing his reach advantage and Daukaus' poor stand-up. He notes Daukaus was dominated by Phil Hawes and struggled to take him down. Holland has been training wrestling and should stuff takedowns. He predicts Holland will get a second-round KO.
Apr 10, 2021
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 24 of 64 | 37% | 152 of 250 | 11 of 17 | 64% | 1 | 0 | 20:01 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 37 of 103 | 35% | 138 of 214 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 9 of 24 | 37% | 24 of 44 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:59 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 16 of 43 | 37% | 36 of 64 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 | |
| 2 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 8 of 17 | 47% | 49 of 84 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 4:26 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 7 of 10 | 70% | 17 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 6 of 16 | 37% | 10 of 24 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 1 | 0 | 3:38 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 8 of 23 | 34% | 25 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 | |
| 4 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 29 of 46 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 4:27 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 4 of 16 | 25% | 19 of 34 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 5 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 40 of 52 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 4:31 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 2 of 11 | 18% | 41 of 53 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Vettori | 24 of 64 | 37% | 22 of 61 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 43 | 2 of 5 | 7 of 16 |
| Kevin Holland | 37 of 103 | 35% | 24 of 81 | 5 of 10 | 8 of 12 | 31 of 85 | 6 of 18 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvin Vettori | 9 of 24 | 37% | 8 of 22 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 18 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 2 |
| Kevin Holland | 16 of 43 | 37% | 5 of 27 | 3 of 6 | 8 of 10 | 13 of 38 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Marvin Vettori | 8 of 17 | 47% | 8 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 12 |
| Kevin Holland | 7 of 10 | 70% | 6 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Marvin Vettori | 6 of 16 | 37% | 5 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 15 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 8 of 23 | 34% | 8 of 19 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 2 | 5 of 17 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Marvin Vettori | 1 of 5 | 20% | 1 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 |
| Kevin Holland | 4 of 16 | 25% | 3 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 13 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Marvin Vettori | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 2 of 11 | 18% | 2 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
We have reached the main event, which brought a change of opponent that was no less intriguing. At middleweight, the rising Italian star Vettori (16-4-1, 6-2-1 UFC) will try to close the mouth of the garrulous “Trailblazer” Holland (21-6, 8-3 UFC) with his fists. A possible place in the top five of the division is up for grabs in this five-round affair, and there is nothing but intensity between the two before referee Herb Dean. Unsurprisingly, there is no glove touch, and the main event is underway. Holland quickly lands a pair of leg kicks, and he pulls back when aiming a third. Vettori sits down on a left hand, but Holland jumps out of the way and scores several more leg kicks and front kicks. One such kick catches Vettori square in the cup, and Vettori starts shouting and is compromised. Dean pauses the action for a minute, and he gives Holland a hard warning for the strike. Holland nods, apologizes, and gets right back to kicking Vettori all over. The two enter into punching range and both land on the other, and Vettori gets clipped with a right hand. Holland enters the clinch and gets off a few knees, but the strength of Vettori allows him to press the rangy kickboxer into the wall. Holland boxes his ear and lands a few shots on the inside to stop a potential takedown from materializing. When at range, Holland continues to pepper the lead leg with kicks, and a frustrated Vettori closes the distance again to stop these kicks from coming. Vettori goes for a trip, but Holland’s takedown defense is intact as he stays upright. The Italian transitions into a double leg takedown, and Holland once more defends it and starts mouthing off to Vettori. They separate, and Holland lands a bevy of kicks to the leg and head until Vettori again charges forward with a swath of punches until he lands in the clinch. Holland backs away and turns to break free, but Vettori muscles him down to the ground. Holland lands a few upkicks before Vettori jumps into his guard, but the Italian ignores them and starts to deliver ground-and-pound while Holland is flat on his back. Holland closes his guard, and he stops Vettori from advancing by kicking off the fence and reversing the position. Vettori bails on another attempt to back off, and he walks forward instead to wing looping shots that Holland takes flush. Holland fires back with kicks and huge punches, and Vettori ignores them and bears down on him to tie him up to the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Round 2
Vettori starts off the round with a big left hand, backing Holland up immediately. Holland gives it to him right back with a trio of punches, and Vettori is not concerned as the two start trading. Holland clips his opponent with punches and then sneaks up a hook kick, forcing Vettori to charge in and pursue a takedown. This time, the attempt is much easier, as he puts Holland down and falls neck-first into a potential guillotine choke. Holland abandons it when he finds that he cannot secure it, and Vettori postures up in the guard to land some strikes. The American turns to the fence and tries to walk up the wire, but Vettori keeps him grounded and lands some strikes from above. “The Italian Dream” stacks Holland up in an unusual position and drills him in the face with multiple right hands, and Holland is stuck. Holland starts throwing punches and even aims an upkick when Vettori stands up, but the Italian lowers himself right back down into the guard to continue his bombardment of short but effective strikes. Holland absorbs a plethora of punches while his scrambles fail, and as soon as he somehow manages to get back to his feet, Vettori drags him back down immediately. Vettori starts to punish Holland with more powerful shots, but most clatter off the guard. Holland climbs back up to his feet, and Vettori may have landed an elbow to the back of the head right before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Round 3
Before the round begins, the doctor comes in to check the swelling on Holland’s eye. It is blowing up quickly, but he informs Dean that he can still see him so the fight goes on. Holland takes a few punches on that damaged eye, and he lands one or two strikes but Vettori is more intent on spamming takedowns. The Italian takes the fight down successfully, albeit briefly, and he lands a mat return when Holland pops back up. Vettori does not sit in Holland’s guard in this attempt, and instead steps over to side control and mount. When he takes this position, Vettori latches on to an arm-triangle choke while he holds full mount. “The Italian Dream” hops over to side control, and he presses with all his might but cannot quite elicit the tap. Holland puts both of his feet on the fence and rolls through to his knees and back up, and Holland defends with a kimura grip while standing. Vettori backs off and lands a few big punches, and Holland retreats and scores a leg kick. Vettori shoots in low and scores a takedown, but “Trailblazer” climbs back up. Holland pops the ears and lands a few short elbows on the inside while Vettori grinds on him against the fence. Holland breaks free and shakes his head, with his left eye a small balloon. Vettori lands a kick to the body, and Holland gives him one back. Vettori knocks Holland’s head back with a left hand, and he closes the distance to clinch up again. Holland defends a potential attempt as Vettori aims for his leg, and he stings Vettori on the way out with a steady diet of quick but solid punches that knock Vettori’s mouthpiece out. Holland laughs as the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Round 4
Holland is fired up going into the fourth frame, but it is Vettori that comes out swinging with a right hand that surprises Holland. Holland replies with a head kick and a left hand, and Vettori backs off and gets tagged with a few more shots. A front kick to the body and a few punches from Holland do a little damage on Vettori, who changes his mind on the standup and crashes in for a body lock takedown. The Italian lands it, and he calmly sits on top as he occasionally lands a punch or two. Holland bucks and flails, even forcing Vettori to stand up as he rolls through but cannot quite escape. Instead, Vettori drags him back down and tries to advance his position. “Trailblazer” rolls to his knees to stand up, and he succeeds while not allowing Vettori to capture his back. Vettori immediately pursues a double leg takedown, and he hits it while landing in full mount as soon as the fight hits the ground. Vettori postures up to land a strike, but clamps down with an arm-triangle choke to finish the fight this way instead. Holland defends it and returns Vettori to half guard, but he is eating shots. Holland retrieves guard, and he turns to his side to escape only to have “The Italian Dream” glom on to him and continue to work. Holland kicks off and even lands an upkick, but Vettori shrugs it off and climbs back into Holland’s guard. The fourth frame concludes as both men land effective strikes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Round 5
The tentative final stanza begins as both men try to find their range. Holland lands a few punches, and a one-two hurts Vettori badly. The Italian smartly changes levels and grabs his man, where he bullies the kickboxer down to the ground one more time. A visibly frustrated Holland is stuck on his back, and he eventually pushes his feet off the cage and upkicks Vettori a couple times. Holland uses the opportunity to return to his feet, only for Vettori to double leg him back down in the center of the cage. Vettori passes to half guard, and Dean tells Vettori to start working as the action stalls out. The Italian advances to mount, and he pursues an arm-triangle choke but there is nothing to be had. Holland rolls and powers back up, and Vettori’s double leg takedown attempt comes in an instant to plant Holland right back down. Vettori in half guard rests on top, and time is peeling off the clock while Holland frantically tries to get up. Holland does get back up and plants a flying knee on Vettori’s chest, and the Italian embraces the grind for the remainder of the lackluster match. If there is any consolation, it is that this fight is now over. We will be back on ESPN next week with another middleweight headliner, and we hope you join us too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vettori (49-46 Vettori)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vettori (49-46 Vettori)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vettori (49-46 Vettori)
The Official Result
Marvin Vettori def. Kevin Holland via Unanimous Decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44)
Expert Picks (6)
Big Brady is confident in Vettori, citing his superior grappling and takedown defense. He notes that Holland has poor takedown defense (51%) and has been taken down easily by lesser wrestlers. Brady believes Vettori will take Holland down and likely secure a submission, as Holland has been submitted before. He also mentions that Holland's knockout power is overrated and Vettori has a great chin. Brady has already bet Vettori and may add him to a parlay.
Cody picks Vettori, citing Holland's poor takedown defense and tendency to quit when tired. He notes Vettori's durability, cardio, and ability to outwork Holland over five rounds. He mentions Holland's cardio collapses after two rounds and that Vettori can pressure and strike with him. He also parlayed Vettori.
Daniel Levi picks Marvin Vettori to win, noting that Vettori is a tough fight for anyone in the middleweight division and has shown improved boxing. He mentions that Vettori is very hittable but has an incredible chin, and that Kevin Holland's takedown defense weakness was already known. Levi thinks the line at -350 is too steep and considers it a dog-or-pass situation, but still favors Vettori. He also notes that Vettori doesn't always shoot for takedowns and likes to stand and bang.
The host is confident in Vettori, citing his mean streak, determination, and wrestling advantage. He thinks Holland's mentality of 'just having fun' is a liability against a grinder like Vettori. He expects Vettori to take Holland down and ground-and-pound him, possibly getting a third-round TKO. He calls Vettori a solid parlay piece.
Paul agrees with Vettori, emphasizing Holland's mental fragility and poor cardio. He notes Holland's takedown defense issues and that Vettori can outwork him. He mentions the price is close to fair and that Vettori is a promising young fighter.
The MMA Guru is extremely confident in Marvin Vettori, stating he would quit predicting fights if Vettori loses. He believes Vettori will use his grappling early, taking Holland down and securing a rear-naked choke in the first round. He notes Holland's poor grappling defense, citing losses to Derek Brunson, Gerald Meerschaert, and Brendan Allen. He also mentions Holland's seven-inch reach advantage but thinks Vettori will avoid striking exchanges and go to the ground. He calls Vettori the biggest threat to Israel Adesanya in the division.
Mar 20, 2021
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derek Brunson | 0 | 43 of 93 | 46% | 226 of 323 | 6 of 12 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 16:55 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 36 of 74 | 48% | 190 of 236 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:47 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derek Brunson | 0 | 14 of 35 | 40% | 63 of 97 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 4:29 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 25 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Derek Brunson | 0 | 7 of 20 | 35% | 16 of 30 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 1 | 0 | 3:09 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 13 of 26 | 50% | 23 of 37 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 | |
| 3 | Derek Brunson | 0 | 6 of 11 | 54% | 54 of 77 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:17 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 39 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 4 | Derek Brunson | 0 | 8 of 12 | 66% | 51 of 64 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 3:46 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 8 of 17 | 47% | 47 of 57 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 5 | Derek Brunson | 0 | 8 of 15 | 53% | 42 of 55 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:14 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 10 of 20 | 50% | 56 of 68 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:45 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derek Brunson | 43 of 93 | 46% | 28 of 74 | 7 of 10 | 8 of 9 | 14 of 43 | 10 of 10 | 19 of 40 |
| Kevin Holland | 36 of 74 | 48% | 28 of 64 | 2 of 4 | 6 of 6 | 29 of 64 | 5 of 7 | 2 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derek Brunson | 14 of 35 | 40% | 12 of 31 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 28 |
| Kevin Holland | 3 of 6 | 50% | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Derek Brunson | 7 of 20 | 35% | 4 of 16 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 14 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 2 |
| Kevin Holland | 13 of 26 | 50% | 11 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 21 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 1 | |
| 3 | Derek Brunson | 6 of 11 | 54% | 5 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 8 |
| Kevin Holland | 2 of 5 | 40% | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Derek Brunson | 8 of 12 | 66% | 5 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 |
| Kevin Holland | 8 of 17 | 47% | 6 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Derek Brunson | 8 of 15 | 53% | 2 of 8 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 7 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Holland | 10 of 20 | 50% | 7 of 15 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 16 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Quicker than expected, we have reached the main event of the evening. At stake is a possible place as a top contender, and two men on a combined eight-fight win streak look to end the other’s success. Brunson (21-7, 12-5 UFC) will face Holland (21-5, 8-2 UFC), and despite Holland’s ribbing, there is no bad blood as the two middleweights decide to touch gloves in front of referee Herb Dean. Holland reaches out with his hand, and he jumps back and gets kicked midair. Holland scores a fast front kick on the chin, and he ducks out of the way as Brunson is coming out throwing haymakers. Holland slips and falls to his back, and Brunson leaps on top to attack. “Trailblazer” ties Brunson up from his back with a body triangle, and Brunson does not mind as he lands a few punches from above. Holland slashes with elbows from below, but the far more emphatic punches are Brunson’s as they have an appreciable effect. Brunson works elbows as Holland looks to set up a submission, and the strikes break up the attempt without issue. Brunson throws heavy shots as he maintains heavy top pressure, and Holland pushes off only to get warned for nearly raking Brunson’s eye. Holland keeps his guard closed as Brunson pounds on him, and Holland talks to him and responds with short, hacking elbows. Holland boxes the ears and throws his legs up to try something, but Brunson ignores it and continues to hammer away on him. Holland is chattering away at him the entire time, and Brunson appears composed and lands heavy shots that silence Holland for the briefest of moments. Holland continues to banter and tell Brunson to stop covering his mouth, and Brunson continues to rain down powerful shots. Holland jumps back up, and Brunson pushes him away right at the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brunson
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Brunson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Brunson
Round 2
Between rounds, Holland has a conversation with former lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov who is sitting in the stands. Holland laughs and smiles, and the fight clocks back in again. Holland whiffs with a huge right hand and a head kick, and Brunson walks forward and gets tagged with a left hand counter. Holland shouts to Nurmagomedov to tell him when Brunson’s takedown comes, and Brunson crashes forward into a clinch for a takedown attempt. Holland breaks free and lazily spins around, and he drills Brunson with a nasty right hand. Holland clips him again with a few punches, and Brunson falls across the cage. Brunson aims for a desperation takedown, lifting Holland’s leg up high in the air. Holland lands a few punches with his leg raised, and Brunson pops him with a right hand and lands an emphatic takedown. Holland surrenders mount quickly, only to roll for a leglock and allow Brunson to climb back into top position. In half guard, Brunson targets an arm-triangle choke, and looks to pass to mount or side control so he can finish the submission. Holland rolls but is pushed down and flattened on the canvas, where Brunson puts his full body weight from the other side and the choke is tight. Holland continues to talk even while firmly in the danger zone, and Brunson is in side control applying the choke. Holland rides out the submission that would put lesser fighters out, and miraculously powers out of the position and kicks off to stand back to his feet. Holland laughs and turns around, and when he throws a kick, Brunson picks him up and slams him down. Holland keeps talking to people out of the cage, asking for advice to stop takedowns. Brunson, in full guard, works him over with punches as Holland slaps and paws at him from beneath. Brunson postures up to land a few strikes, and he kicks off right before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brunson
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Brunson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Brunson
Round 3
Holland is not dismayed by the results of the last rounds, and he comes out smiling and reaches out his left hand. Brunson flirts with a leg kick, and Holland smacks him with an overhand right counter. Brunson retreats and circles around the cage, and Holland walks him down and lands a crisp right hand. Brunson shoots in for a takedown, where he lifts Holland up and slams him down on the canvas. Holland throws his legs up for a triangle choke, and he turns it into an armbar but Brunson is savvy and able to get out of harm’s way. Holland is able to get Brunson to stand up, but Brunson wades through an upkick to lower himself back into Holland’s guard. Holland stays busy on his back with elbows and slaps, and Brunson’s workrate has slowed dramatically. Brunson sits up a few times with slowed punches, and Holland ties him up and looks to Dean for a standup. Holland ties up a body triangle and elbows Brunson a few times, but he does allow Brunson to land some punches as well. Brunson, whose strikes are slowing, lands some but not enough to stave off Dean. The shots are enough to keep the position, but Holland is consistently throwing palm strikes and elbows at high volume. Brunson grinds his elbow on Holland’s chin, and his ground-and-pound is sporadic but effective at racking up lengthy control time in the round. Brunson sits up to drop down a few punches, and he squeezes heavily from above while Holland tries and fails to kick off the fence. Brunson continues his grind-embracing approach until the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brunson
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Brunson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Brunson
Round 4
Holland opens up the round with a leg kick, and he backs away while Brunson pump-fakes with takedown attempts. Brunson lets loose a lazy leg kick, and two punches find their home on his chin as a response. Holland clips Brunson with a few punches, and Brunson falls forward to take the fight down. Holland backs off, and recklessly charges into the fray only to get tied up. Holland pushes him off, and gets pulled into a clinch where Brunson uppercuts him several times. Brunson pushes him into the fence and gets a takedown, where he lands in side control. Holland scrambles back to his feet, but Brunson drags him right back down and is in Holland’s closed guard. Holland is frustrated as Brunson calmly and methodically gives ground-and-pound, and when Brunson elbows him in the face, Holland loudly cheers for him. Dean asks Brunson to work a few times, and every time he says it, Brunson lands a punch or two from on top. Holland looks to kick off the fence, only to get pulled back away from it and eat strikes. Brunson’s top control is making Dean take a close look at standing the fight back up, as he claps for Brunson to continue working. Holland kicks off the fence and gets to his knee. He hops over to the fence, and Brunson follows him and mashes him into the wire. Brunson presses his full body weight into Holland’s chest, and he knees Holland a few times and puts his hands out of the cage for a moment. Dean admonishes him, and he apologizes. Holland fails to escape the clinch, and elects to slap Brunson a few times before the fourth round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brunson
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Brunson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Brunson
Round 5
Holland offers a glove touch but Brunson ignores him to start off the final round. Holland picks his leg up to block a leg kick, and he stands still in the center of the cage while Brunson aims for angles. A front kick from Holland misses, and Brunson backs off and jabs him a few times. Brunson ducks down and clocks Holland with a left hand, and he may have hurt Holland but Holland wears it well and counters a leg kick with a left hand. Holland catches Brunson on the way in with a left hand, and when he leaps forward with a hook, Brunson ducks down and clinches up to take the fight down. The two land punches to the body in the clinch, and Holland knees him a few times for good measure. One of Holland’s strikes opened up a cut on Brunson’s eye, and Holland smells the blood and is excited by it. “Trailblazer” surges forward and takes Brunson down, and he is now the first fighter in UFC history to land a takedown on Brunson. Holland celebrates his work, but Brunson ties him up and locks him down so that little effective ground-and-pound can be levied. Holland postures up and lands a few punches, before lifting Brunson up to slam him down as if he were channeling his inner Quinton Jackson. Dean tells Holland that he will stand him up if he does not do anything, so he sits up and lands some shots. Brunson kicks him off, and he rushes forward for a takedown of his own to grind out the talkative kickboxer. Holland defends the first attempt but cannot stop the redoubled effort, as he slowly descends to the canvas where Brunson is lording over him punching him in the face. Dean already tells Brunson to do something, and Brunson does just that with elbows and punches. Holland pushes off the fence and giggles at Brunson, but Brunson is holding the position and winning the fight because of this strategy. Holland kicks off, and he walks away upset that he lost. With 10 seconds left, Holland appears to admit defeat as he turns his back and waves his hand in disgust. Brunson lands a punch as Holland is not paying attention, so Holland explodes with a flying knee and a hammerfist on the way down, and the final horn blares to end this 25-minute affair. The fight card comes to an inglorious end, but there is no ill will between the two middleweights. A big pay-per-view event comes over the horizon next week, although it has lost some luster as featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski tested positive for COVID-19 and the fight is off – this is likely why the Riddell-Gillespie fight was scratched on tonight’s card. We will be here for UFC 260, and we hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland (49-46 Brunson)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Holland (49-46 Brunson)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holland (49-46 Brunson)
The Official Result
Derek Brunson def. Kevin Holland via Unanimous Decision (49-45, 49-46, 49-46)
Expert Picks (4)
Big Brady picks Kevin Holland but is hesitant, acknowledging the line is off and Brunson is the value side. He notes Holland has red flags in his takedown defense and cardio, but Brunson has been knocked out five times and may struggle to hold Holland down. Brady expects Holland to knock out Brunson in the second round, as Holland is dangerous off his back and has a steel chin. He says the KO prop at +160 is not a bad look.
Daniel Levi picks Kevin Holland, citing his creativity and unquantifiable skills. He acknowledges Brunson's improved composure but believes Holland's experience and talent will prevail. He notes Holland's overconfidence as a concern but still expects a spectacular finish. He mentions Holland's past injury in the Darren Stewart fight as a possible excuse for that poor performance.
Brunson has rejuvenated his career at Sanford MMA, becoming more disciplined and conservative. He should have a wrestling advantage and can control Holland against the cage or on the ground. Holland's cardio is untested in five-round fights, and he showed flaws against Darren Stewart. Brunson's chin narrative is overblown; he's been more careful. Brunson by decision is the pick, with the decision prop at +365 offering value.
The MMA Guru picks Kevin Holland to beat Derek Brunson. He believes Holland has shown a good jiu-jitsu game off his back, which previous Brunson opponents lacked, and can work early for a TKO. He notes Brunson's tendency to crumble under trash talk, as seen against Israel Adesanya, and expects Brunson to shoot desperately and get caught. However, he admits concern because Brunson has a knack for pulling off upsets.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 15 of 18 | 83% | 21 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:27 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 15 of 18 | 83% | 21 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Jacare Souza | 0 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:27 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 15 of 18 | 83% | 14 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 14 |
| Jacare Souza | 2 of 2 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 15 of 18 | 83% | 14 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 14 |
| Jacare Souza | 2 of 2 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
In a potential middleweight passing of the torch match – see also the previous bout – Holland (20-5, 7-2 UFC) will look to earn his fifth UFC win of the year against “Jacare” Souza (26-8, 1 NC; 9-5, 1 NC UFC). Thirteen years separate these two contenders, and referee Mark Smith will keep charge of the cage in this one. They touch gloves, and Holland lets loose a huge overhand right and a leg kick. Souza grabs his leg and hits a takedown, where Holland pulls his leg up to trap Souza and elbow him in the head like Anderson Silva did to Travis Lutter. Souza turns to try to get out of this position, and Holland powers back to his feet. Souza grips hold of a double, and then a single as Holland elbows his way out of danger. Holland latches on to a guillotine choke, and Souza pulls his head out and drops his opponent down. Holland starts talking trash while on his back, and Souza laughs and punches him in the face. Holland from his back nails Souza in the face with a huge right hand, and Souza falls to his back and gets blasted with another big right hand. “Jacare” leans backward as he is incredibly hurt while on his knees, and Holland springs up and drills Souza in the face with three lethal punches to completely shut Souza’s lights out. A few moments later, Souza manages to slump to his stool, and he nearly passes out again from the massive damage he received. Incredible! Holland has now won five fights this year, and done so in just seven impressive months. In his post-fight interview, Holland calls out Khamzat Chimaev to come up to greet him at 185 pounds next week.
The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Ronaldo Souza R1 1:45 via KO (Punches)
Expert Picks (4)
Big Brady picks Jacare Souza to win by submission. He is concerned about Holland's poor takedown defense and submission history, and believes if Souza gets the fight to the mat, it's over. He notes Souza's superior competition and Holland's negative fight IQ. He passes on betting due to line movement but leans Souza.
Daniel is torn, acknowledging Holland's youth, reach, and hunger, but worried about his takedown defense and submission vulnerability. He notes Jacare's age and potential decline, but respects his jiu-jitsu. He picks Holland as a contrarian play since the line flipped, but calls it a very unconfident pick.
Souza is a high-level jiu-jitsu player who should be able to take Holland down and submit him. Holland has shown poor takedown defense and was submitted by Brendan Allen. Souza is older but still competitive, and his grappling is a huge threat. The line should be flipped; Souza is the better fighter here.
The MMA Guru picks Jacare Souza as an underdog, despite liking Kevin Holland. He believes Souza's chin, experience, and full camp will be key. He expects Holland to have a good first round but Souza to wear on him and get a submission win in the third round. He criticizes Holland's rapid fight schedule and lack of improvement.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 11 of 12 | 91% | 33 of 34 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:13 |
| Charlie Ontiveros | 0 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 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 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 11 of 12 | 91% | 33 of 34 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:13 |
| Charlie Ontiveros | 0 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 11 of 12 | 91% | 10 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 9 |
| Charlie Ontiveros | 2 of 2 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 11 of 12 | 91% | 10 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 9 |
| Charlie Ontiveros | 2 of 2 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Looking to do what Green could not in win for the fourth time inside the Octagon in 2020 is “Trailblazer” Holland (19-5, 6-2 UFC) who meets short-notice replacement and Fury FC staple Ontiveros (11-6, 0-0 UFC). The referee for this middleweight clash is Mark Smith, and Holland thanks his opponent for taking the fight by offering a touch of gloves. Holland races in to attack, and he falls over coming so recklessly. Ontiveros lets loose an axe kick, and Holland mocks him for throwing that strike. Holland picks up the newcomer and slams him down, where he lands in side control and starts dropping down elbows as Ontiveros has a hold of his neck. Ontiveros is briefly in Von Preux danger, but Holland takes north-south position and starts punching the side of Ontiveros’ head and body. Holland rains down some clacking elbows on Ontiveros, and the newcomer tries to buck him off but is trapped on his back in side control. Holland grinds his elbow on the face of his opponent, and Ontiveros spins out and stands back up.
Holland takes his back, trips his leg out and smashes Ontiveros down hard. Holland looks to set up some sort of submission but Ontiveros may be out cold or hurt badly from the slam. Holland motions to Smith that Ontiveros is hurt, and Ontiveros moans or cries out, prompting Smith to intervene and stop the fight by verbal submission.
The finishing sequence is unclear, whether the impact of the slam put Ontiveros out or hurt him in some way. Holland gets up to celebrate, and he starts calling out champ Israel Adesanya in the audience. Meanwhile, Ontiveros is still down, and he will need be stretchered out. We hope he makes a full recovery, from the potential neck injury that Holland claims his fallen opponent mentioned. After the fight, UFC President Dana White informed the broadcast team that Ontiveros has full feeling and movement of all of his extremities.
The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Charlie Ontiveros R1 2:39 via TKO (Verbal Submission to Slam)
Expert Picks (3)
Big Brady thinks Holland's reach and technical striking give him an edge, but acknowledges the fight could go either way. He notes both fighters have questionable cardio and that Holland's chin is solid. He predicts a close decision win for Holland.
Murad is the more technical striker with good boxing and body work. Holland is unorthodox and may disrupt Murad's rhythm, but Murad's skill set should prevail if he can handle the awkwardness. Murad by decision is the pick.
The MMA Guru picks Kevin Holland to win by submission in the second or first round, citing Holland's activity and reach advantage. He expects Holland to out-strike Muradov early, causing Muradov to shoot a takedown and get caught in a guillotine or D'Arce choke. He notes the odds are -175 for Holland and +137 for Muradov, and suggests betting on Holland now as the line may tighten.
Sep 19, 2020
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 74 of 129 | 57% | 163 of 223 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:35 |
| Darren Stewart | 0 | 57 of 110 | 51% | 97 of 159 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 0 | 0 | 4:09 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 33 of 56 | 58% | 68 of 92 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:04 |
| Darren Stewart | 0 | 17 of 35 | 48% | 35 of 53 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:20 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 31 of 57 | 54% | 49 of 78 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Darren Stewart | 0 | 28 of 40 | 70% | 30 of 43 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:18 | |
| 3 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 10 of 16 | 62% | 46 of 53 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:21 |
| Darren Stewart | 0 | 12 of 35 | 34% | 32 of 63 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:31 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 74 of 129 | 57% | 54 of 101 | 9 of 13 | 11 of 15 | 62 of 112 | 11 of 15 | 1 of 2 |
| Darren Stewart | 57 of 110 | 51% | 26 of 74 | 6 of 7 | 25 of 29 | 33 of 69 | 6 of 8 | 18 of 33 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 33 of 56 | 58% | 26 of 45 | 4 of 5 | 3 of 6 | 28 of 50 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Darren Stewart | 17 of 35 | 48% | 9 of 26 | 3 of 4 | 5 of 5 | 13 of 29 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 31 of 57 | 54% | 19 of 41 | 5 of 8 | 7 of 8 | 26 of 49 | 4 of 6 | 1 of 2 |
| Darren Stewart | 28 of 40 | 70% | 8 of 17 | 2 of 2 | 18 of 21 | 17 of 29 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 11 | |
| 3 | Kevin Holland | 10 of 16 | 62% | 9 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 13 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Darren Stewart | 12 of 35 | 34% | 9 of 31 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 11 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 22 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Opening the main card – the whole event is airing on ESPN+ – is a middleweight matchup pitting Stewart (12-5, 1 NC; 5-5, 1 NC UFC) against yet another fighter initially signed from the Contender Series in Holland (18-5, 5-2 UFC). The pairing between two men who prefer to get the finish will be presided over by referee Mark Smith, and the two men touch gloves to start off. Holland opens up with a leg kick and blocks an overhand right. Stewart goes to the same big right hand, and Holland charges him. In the clinch, a wild volley from both men comes in the form of several knees and elbows. Holland pushes Stewart to the fence, and he tells Stewart that he is strong. Holland gets kneed in the groin and is allowed time to recover, and he says it is an “Apex thing.” The action resumes as Holland kicks the leg, and they both clash leg kicks at the same time. Holland ducks a pair of looping hooks on the way out, and as he jabs he gets kicked in the leg. Stewart connects with a hard leg kick, and he tries to check it but does not get his guard up in time. Holland flings a head kick and Stewart eats it like a sandwich, and Stewart responds with a huge right hand that wobbles Holland. “Trailblazer” falls back to the canvas, possibly to lure his opponent in or he could be hurt, and he cracks Stewart with two huge punches that make the Brit have rubber legs. The two bite down on their gumshields and swing furious leather until they die up, and Holland stomps his toes as hard as he can. Both men start punching each other in the thigh as they turn one another about against the fence, and Holland works the body and checks Stewart in the face with his shoulder. Stewart absorbs several loud stomps on his toes and knees to the thigh, and Holland backs off to fire two punches but the Brit blocks them. Holland steps in with a side kick, and as Stewart steps out of the way, Holland hits him with a standing hammerfist. When Stewart throws a naked leg kick, Holland counters him with a left hand, and Stewart wears it well. The Brit crashes in for a takedown, and Holland defends it with a guillotine choke to stand Stewart up. Smith already calls both men to work, and Holland attempts to throw his man. They separate, and Holland kicks him in the head and points at him to laugh. The horn sounds, and the two men grin.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Round 2
The second round begins with Holland cracking jokes and laughing, before he kicks the lead leg. Holland stomps forward to make Stewart react, and he kicks the knee hard. Stewart returns with one of his own, and Holland kicks high and gets his leg caught. The Brit picks up the leg and slams Holland down, before landing a strike on the ground before standing up. When Holland tries to hit him with an upkick, Stewart punches the sole of his foot. Both men trade leg kicks, with Holland trying to sweep the leg and kick out the knee. Smith decides he has had enough of that exchange and stands them up. Holland kicks the leg, and Stewart kicks straight to the kneecap in response. Holland chops at the leg again, and he avoids the counter while smacking Stewart with a hammerfist. They trade leg kicks, and Holland blasts Stewart with a one-two. Stewart spins about possibly hurt, but he fires back at him and shouts “Let’s go” repeatedly. Holland backs off and takes a few leg kicks along with a jab, before chaining together an unorthodox combination with a back fist and hammerfist included. Stewart lands a kick to the groin, and Smith does not see it so we do not take a pause. Holland shoots in low to duck an overhand right, and his neck is instantly in guillotine choke danger. Stewart grabs hold of the neck but bails on it to punch him in the side of the head. Holland stands up and wings a few punches, but Stewart defends them without concern. Stewart stomps the knee again, forcing Holland to shake his leg out. The Brit kicks it again, halting Holland in his tracks. Holland lands a side kick, and he avoids a jab to shoot in from a distance. He abandons the takedown to start swinging heavy leather on Stewart, landing shots until they clinch up. Stewart spins him around and lifts him in the air as the horn blares. Mid-air, Stewart decides to slam Holland down with gusto, and Smith breaks them up.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Round 3
They clap hands to check in the third round, and as Stewart walks forward, Holland slings a few hooks that glance off the chin. Stewart winds up with a right hand and Holland is barely able to duck out of the way. Holland kicks the leg and gets it caught, so he punches Stewart in the face a few times until the Brit elevates the leg and slams Holland down. Holland works his way back up, but Stewart has his hands clasped and he puts Holland back to the ground. “Trailblazer” again fights his way up and sets up a kimura to sweep Stewart. Stewart holds the cage several times with his toes, and Smith and Holland both call him out on it. The two get back up against the cage, and they jockey for position while they deliver a few knees to the body. After landing a few punches to the thigh, they disengage. Holland stings him with a right hand, and Stewart is not concerned and walks forward. The American ducks down to take the fight to the ground, and “The Dentist” stuffs it and cracks Holland on the chops with an elbow. Holland stays committed to the takedown, but Stewart turns him around and scoops Holland up to slam him down. Stewart lands a few strikes from on top, and Holland rolls to his side to eat several punches and draw a warning to fight back from Smith. Holland boxes his ears and elbows him from his back, and Stewart postures up to rain down punches and elbows. Stewart starts trash talking Holland on top as he drops down punches, and yells at his opponent while punishing him from on top. Stewart continues to shout and strike until the final horn ends this unusual fight.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Stewart (29-28 Holland)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Stewart (29-28 Holland)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Stewart (29-28 Holland)
The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Darren Stewart via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Expert Picks (3)
Big Brady picks Kevin Holland but is hesitant due to Holland's low fight IQ and tendency to mess around. He notes Holland has a seven-inch reach advantage and is the better striker, but his takedown game is inconsistent. He expects a close decision, though he acknowledges Stewart's poor takedown defense could be exploited.
The host favors Kevin Holland's length, awkward style, and high-level jiu-jitsu, believing he will take Darren Stewart down and submit him. He notes Stewart's underwhelming performance against Maki Pitolo and the travel disadvantage from the UK. He predicts a third-round submission for Holland, and likes the under 2.5 rounds at +155.
The host picks Kevin Holland over Darren Stewart, citing Holland's range, versatility, and experience. He notes Stewart's stiffness and predictability, and predicts a submission win in the second or third round, possibly via guillotine or rear-naked choke after hurting Stewart on the feet.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 2 | 79 of 134 | 58% | 86 of 141 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Joaquin Buckley | 0 | 40 of 120 | 33% | 41 of 121 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 1 | 32 of 54 | 59% | 34 of 56 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Joaquin Buckley | 0 | 20 of 57 | 35% | 20 of 57 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 41 of 73 | 56% | 46 of 78 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joaquin Buckley | 0 | 17 of 55 | 30% | 18 of 56 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:13 | |
| 3 | Kevin Holland | 1 | 6 of 7 | 85% | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joaquin Buckley | 0 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 79 of 134 | 58% | 45 of 86 | 18 of 32 | 16 of 16 | 71 of 124 | 5 of 7 | 3 of 3 |
| Joaquin Buckley | 40 of 120 | 33% | 6 of 59 | 31 of 58 | 3 of 3 | 33 of 110 | 7 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 32 of 54 | 59% | 17 of 32 | 6 of 13 | 9 of 9 | 25 of 45 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 3 |
| Joaquin Buckley | 20 of 57 | 35% | 3 of 25 | 15 of 30 | 2 of 2 | 13 of 47 | 7 of 10 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 41 of 73 | 56% | 24 of 49 | 10 of 17 | 7 of 7 | 40 of 72 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Joaquin Buckley | 17 of 55 | 30% | 1 of 29 | 15 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 55 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Kevin Holland | 6 of 7 | 85% | 4 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joaquin Buckley | 3 of 8 | 37% | 2 of 5 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
A week removed from an unexpected loss of opponent, Holland (17-5, 4-2 UFC) – whose previous foe Trevin Giles fainted backstage in an instance eerie similar to Stefan Struve’s at UFC 175 – takes on short-notice opponent and recent LFA victor Buckley (10-2, 0-0 UFC) at middleweight. The third man inside the Octagon is referee Mark Smith, and there is no interest in touching gloves. Holland hits an early takedown, and Buckley quickly gets back to his feet and goats Holland on. Buckley comes up short with looping punches, and he catches a kick and plants Holland on his backside with a right hand. The strike was not damaging but knocked him off-balance, and Holland gets back up quickly. Buckley loops a few punches low, and one hits the cup, and we have another groin strike stoppage. We do not hold the action for long, and Buckley winds up with a few more booming punches. Holland keeps his distance, and Buckley throws everything he has at him like a muscular tornado. Holland stays composed with knees up the middle, and when they clinch, he rips a few elbows that catch Buckley on the dome. Cuts have opened up on both of the left eyes of the two fightes, but they pay them no mind. Buckley charges forward with punches, and lands a few more to the body as Holland tries to back away and keep distant with kicks. A leg kick and a front kick sting Buckley, who sounds like he is already taking some very deep breaths. Holland comes out with a few punches, and Buckley bites down on his mouthpiece and swings again. Buckley again nails the cup with a low punch, and Smith stops the action immediately. Holland recovers, and Buckley charges in like a bull. Holland has his hands by his waist as he starts talking to Buckley, who obliges with punches. Holland digs a kick to the body, and he keeps talking to Buckley as he walks him down with an elbow. When Buckley backs away, Holland flies in the air like a superhero and nearly lands a knee and a punch as he is coming down. The horn sounds to end this dramatic round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Round 2
Buckley wades forward with more looping hooks to the body, throwing them like Bobby Southworth in rapid succession. He muscles Holland to the canvas when he tries to close the distance, and Holland stands back up without effort. Landing at the end of his right hand, Holland is able to avoid a bomb of a left hand by his whiskers. Buckley is content to throw strikes up close, and Holland kicks to the leg and body to keep him away. Holland stings him with a left as Buckley wades forward, but Buckley bites down on his mouthpiece and walks through it. Holland kicks and leaves his foot out too long, so Buckley catches it. He cannot do anything with it, and they clash shins with they kick at the same time. Buckley crashes towards him with unloads a barrage of heavy punches, and Holland is able to keep his guard up to block them and avoid the strikes. Holland connects with a front kick and a right straight that knocks the mouthpiece out, and Smith replaces it in an instant. Holland goes low with a kick and ducks a looping punch to back way. Buckley charges with reckless abandon and his hooks are not landing successfully, but he is keeping Holland backing away. When Buckley closes in and pushes him to the fence, Holland slaps him repeatedly in the ear. They separate, and Holland stays on the outside with jabbing kicks as Buckley attempts to close in and throw caution to the wind. Holland steps forward with an elbow to disrupt the booming hooks from Buckley, and the two men slam their bodies together with a flurry of violence. Holland sticks out a jab to keep Buckley backing off, and kicks him to the body to push him back again. Holland rings his bell with a right hand, and the action wanes towards the end of the round. Holland goes for a lazy side kick and a hook kick that is well above the head. They slam together again and swing for the fences, with Holland leaping in the air for a knee on the bell. They celebrate their handiwork at the end of the second.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Round 3
Buckley has no interest in touching gloves to being the final frame, and would rather knock the head off his opponent’s shoulders. He tries and fails, with Holland backing off to reset.
“Trailblazer” pinpoints a blistering right hand after a jab that ejects the mouthpiece from his opponent’s mouth as if he were in a UFC video game, and Smith checks and sees that Buckley is out.
Smith wisely waves off the contest as he likely sees Buckley’s eyes rolling around in the back of his head. What an outstanding performance for Holland, who records the knockout in impressive fashion.
The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Joaquin Buckley R3 0:32 via TKO (Punch)
Expert Picks (3)
Big Brady picks Holland despite the high price, citing his length, reach, and athleticism. He notes Buckley's power but believes Holland's chin and ground game (if used) will be decisive. He predicts a third-round knockout for Holland.
Daniel Levi picks Kevin Holland to win, stating that Holland is more skilled across the board, with better jiu-jitsu, length, and experience. He notes that Joaquin Buckley looks intimidating but is slower and not as skilled at the UFC level. Levi believes Holland can win however he wants as long as he doesn't get caught with a big shot.
Hacparast is a striker with power and good footwork, but his takedown defense is a question against Munoz's wrestling. Munoz has power and wrestling from Team Alpha Male, but as a UFC debutant, there's uncertainty. The under 2.5 rounds is appealing because both have finishing ability and the fight could become a slugfest. Hacparast likely wins by KO in the second round.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Anthony Hernandez | 1 | 14 of 18 | 77% | 14 of 18 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Anthony Hernandez | 1 | 14 of 18 | 77% | 14 of 18 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Anthony Hernandez | 14 of 18 | 77% | 9 of 13 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 7 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 6 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Anthony Hernandez | 14 of 18 | 77% | 9 of 13 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 7 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 6 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Up next, two ex-LFA middleweights will square off as Holland (16-5, 3-2 UFC) takes on “Fluffy” Hernandez (7-1, 1 NC; 1-1 UFC). The third inside the cage is referee Michael Cardoso, and the two opt not to touch gloves as they’d prefer to start throwing. Holland comes out with a huge one-two, and both land and send “Fluffy” bouncing back to the cage wall. Holland is loose as he goes from left kick to body kick to jab to hook.
Holland cracks Hernandez with an elbow, and blasts him in the chest with a perfect knee. The strike evacuates the lungs of the one-beaten fighter from California and sets him down. Holland follows it with another knee, and Hernandez falls against the fence before landing face-first on the ground.
Sensing the finish is right around the corner, Holland rains down punches until Cardoso stops the fight. What an impressive showcase for “Trailblazer,” who blazes through Hernandez in rapid fashion while becoming the first man to knock him out.
The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Anthony Hernandez R1 0:39 via TKO (Knees and Punches)
Expert Picks (3)
Big Brady picks Anthony Hernandez by decision, citing Holland's poor fight IQ and takedown defense. He notes that Hernandez has good wrestling and BJJ, and can take Holland down and control him. He acknowledges Holland's talent but cannot trust him due to his low IQ. He sees a chance for Hernandez to submit Holland if Holland makes a mistake on the ground.
Daniel Levi picks Kevin Holland as the underdog. He thinks Holland is the better fighter but notes his inconsistency and tendency to lose position. He acknowledges that Hernandez has good takedown entries and power, but believes Holland's jiu-jitsu off his back and cleaner striking give him the edge. He calls it a close fight.
The host picks Kevin Holland, citing his toughness, submission game, and striking. He is unimpressed with Hernandez's recent win over Park and believes Holland's scrambles and submission defense will keep the fight standing where he can out-strike Hernandez for a decision win.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brendan Allen | 0 | 10 of 22 | 45% | 23 of 41 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 4 | 2 | 2:54 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 22 of 38 | 57% | 37 of 55 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 1 | 4:44 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brendan Allen | 0 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 6 of 10 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 3 | 1 | 1:54 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 14 of 18 | 77% | 19 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 1 | 2:45 | |
| 2 | Brendan Allen | 0 | 8 of 17 | 47% | 17 of 31 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 1 | 1:00 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 8 of 20 | 40% | 18 of 31 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:59 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brendan Allen | 10 of 22 | 45% | 7 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 7 |
| Kevin Holland | 22 of 38 | 57% | 14 of 27 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 5 | 12 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 12 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brendan Allen | 2 of 5 | 40% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Kevin Holland | 14 of 18 | 77% | 7 of 10 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 12 | |
| 2 | Brendan Allen | 8 of 17 | 47% | 6 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 6 |
| Kevin Holland | 8 of 20 | 40% | 7 of 17 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 8 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Moving to middleweight, former LFA 185-pound champ Allen (12-3, 0-0 UFC) makes his promotional debut against Holland (16-4, 3-1 UFC). Serving as the referee will be Steve Rita. There is no touch of gloves, as we get right down to business with heavy kicks by both men. The two men are swinging hard right out of the gate, until Allen drives in for a body lock takedown and gets Holland down. Holland gets back to his feet but Allen snatches up his back, and is hanging on like a backpack. Holland spins out to try to break position but Allen is wrapped around his waist and won't let go. As Allen has his back against the fence as Holland leans backward, Allen trips his legs out and drags Holland down. Allen briefly seeks a rear-naked choke attempt until Holland powers out, and shakes Allen off his back. On top but with a leg hooked by Allen, "Trailblazer" tries to set up some powerful ground-and-pound. Holland swings down a heavy elbow that slices the forehead open of Allen, and blood starts flowing immediately. Desperate to get out of the position, Allen pulls for a leg lock, and Holland stands up out of it. The submission attempt is unsuccessful, and Holland puts together some more ground-and-pound before going after a rear-naked choke of his own. Holland wraps his arm under Allen's neck and it is tight?until it isn't, as Allen survives possibly thanks to the slippery blood. Allen remarkably rolls out and after the two jockey for position, Allen grabs hold of Holland's neck with his own rear-naked choke. Holland survives and also shucks off an armbar attempt, and this exciting and bloody round comes to a close.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Round 2
Allen charges forward to start the round, swinging punches with reckless abandon to close the distance. Holland backs off and throws a few low kicks, and then a stiff right hand comes over the top from Holland. Holland shoots in for a takedown and Allen immediately pulls for a guillotine choke, but Holland is not concerned and waits for his moment to pop his head out. He does so, and in full guard he pushes away an armbar attempt before Allen sets up a triangle choke. With his arm in the choke, Holland pushes out and regains position to get out of danger. It is not long before Allen throws his legs up again to vie for an arm lock before aiming for that triangle, and as Holland steps over, he throws a punch from his behind his back and clocks Allen right on the chin. Allen explodes out, and the position has changed dramatically, with Allen taking Holland's back before Holland rolls through. Content to take half guard, Allen drops down some elbows to try to open his opponent up too, and as he takes shots, Holland rolls over to try to escape.
Allen capitalizes on that opportunity to latch on to Holland's back, and wraps his arm around Holland's neck for a rear-naked choke. This is tight, and as Holland tries to turn out, there is no escape, and he is forced to tap out.
This is a statement-making win for Allen, who makes his debut in style by submitting a talented prospect in Holland.
The Official Result
Brendan Allen def. Kevin Holland R2 3:38 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Jun 22, 2019
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 58 of 117 | 49% | 192 of 253 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:19 |
| Alessio Di Chirico | 0 | 51 of 84 | 60% | 62 of 97 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:42 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 21 of 45 | 46% | 96 of 120 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:28 |
| Alessio Di Chirico | 0 | 18 of 28 | 64% | 25 of 35 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:51 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 10 of 25 | 40% | 57 of 74 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:51 |
| Alessio Di Chirico | 0 | 20 of 29 | 68% | 24 of 35 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:40 | |
| 3 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 27 of 47 | 57% | 39 of 59 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Alessio Di Chirico | 0 | 13 of 27 | 48% | 13 of 27 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 58 of 117 | 49% | 13 of 61 | 18 of 26 | 27 of 30 | 43 of 100 | 15 of 17 | 0 of 0 |
| Alessio Di Chirico | 51 of 84 | 60% | 29 of 57 | 6 of 11 | 16 of 16 | 35 of 64 | 15 of 19 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 21 of 45 | 46% | 4 of 25 | 7 of 9 | 10 of 11 | 11 of 34 | 10 of 11 | 0 of 0 |
| Alessio Di Chirico | 18 of 28 | 64% | 12 of 21 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 5 | 9 of 18 | 8 of 9 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 10 of 25 | 40% | 2 of 12 | 4 of 8 | 4 of 5 | 6 of 20 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Alessio Di Chirico | 20 of 29 | 68% | 14 of 21 | 2 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 13 of 21 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Kevin Holland | 27 of 47 | 57% | 7 of 24 | 7 of 9 | 13 of 14 | 26 of 46 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Alessio Di Chirico | 13 of 27 | 48% | 3 of 15 | 3 of 5 | 7 of 7 | 13 of 25 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
The first fight of the main card is a middleweight bout between Kevin Holland and Alessio Di Chirico. The referee is Blake Grice. They touch gloves. Di Chirico lands a low kick. Holland moves forward and lands a high kick and then clinches up Di Chirico against the fence. Holland is landing punches to the body and knees from the clinch but Di Chirico breaks free. Holland lands a side kick. Low kick by Holland. Di Chirico lands an overhand right. Holland with a spinning wheel kick and he uses it to close the distance and clinch Di Chirico against the fence. Holland is doing work with his dirty boxing but Di Chirico reverses position along the fence. Holland reverses back. They break. Holland blitzes forward with a straight right and a left hook. Di Chirico lands a kick to the body. They clinch again. Di Chirico lands a nasty elbow from the clinch that rocks Holland. Di Chirico is able to slam Holland to the mat. Di Chirico finishes the round on top and may have stole it back.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Di Chirico
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Di Chirico
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Di Chirico
Round 2
Round two begins. Holland shoots forward and clinches Di Chirico against the fence. Holland is landing some hammerfists to the thighs of Di Chirico and some punches to the body. Di Chirico reverses position. They are jockeying for position along the fence and Holland is now the one doing the pushing. They finally break. Di Chirico lands an elbow on the break and a low kick right after. Holland with a low kick now. Holland shoots for a power double leg takedown and gets it but Di Chirico immediately gets back to his feet. Now Di Chirico is walking down Holland and lands an overhand right. Holland lands a straight right. Di Chirico with a low kick and Holland returns with another straight right. The round soon comes to a close but not before a heavy flurry by Di Chirico right before the end of the round.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Di Chirico
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Di Chirico
Round 3
Round three begins. The doctor checked the right shoulder of Holland in between rounds but let him continue despite it possibly being dislocated. The third round begins with a tepid pace. Holland lands a big left hook. Low kick by Holland. He lands a step-in left uppercut. Di Chirico returns fire with an overhand right. Holland lands another low kick. Di Chirico lands a low kick of his own. Holland with a left high kick. Di Chirico with a powerful straight right that just misses landing clean. Holland with a side kick. Now he lands a low kick. Right high kick by Holland. Di Chirico with a straight right. They exchange low kicks. Holland shoots for a double leg takedown but Di Chirico stuffs it. Di Chirico changes levels and completes a double leg takedown of his own. Holland gets back up to his feet but that final takedown may have swung the fight in Di Chirico’s favor, but we'll see.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Holland (29-28 Holland)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Holland (29-28 Di Chirico)
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Di Chirico (30-27 Di Chirico)
The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Alessio Di Chirico via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 27 of 43 | 62% | 76 of 98 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 2 | 2 | 4:10 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 10 of 13 | 76% | 44 of 56 | 6 of 11 | 54% | 4 | 2 | 9:13 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 9 of 14 | 64% | 21 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 2 | 1 | 1:52 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 7 of 8 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 | 1 | 2:39 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 13 of 18 | 72% | 27 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:50 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 4 of 4 | 100% | 14 of 16 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:43 | |
| 3 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 5 of 11 | 45% | 28 of 36 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:28 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 23 of 32 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 2 | 1 | 2:51 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 27 of 43 | 62% | 19 of 35 | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 10 of 19 | 0 of 1 | 17 of 23 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 10 of 13 | 76% | 4 of 6 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 4 of 7 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 9 of 14 | 64% | 6 of 11 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 9 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 13 of 18 | 72% | 11 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 12 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 4 of 4 | 100% | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | |
| 3 | Kevin Holland | 5 of 11 | 45% | 2 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 2 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 4 of 7 | 57% | 1 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Next up is a middleweight matchup between Kevin Holland Gerald Meerschaert. Dan Miragliotta is the referee for this contest. They touch gloves and the fight begins. Meerschaert lands a low kick. Holland lands a kick to the body but Meerschaert changes levels and land a double leg takedown. Holland is working on a guillotine but Meerschaert. It’s tight but Meerschaert is in half guard so he has enough space to get out of it. Holland explodes and gets back to this feet. Meerschaert hangs on to Holland drags him back down to the mat but Holland is on top. Meerschaert is able to lock up a guillotine choke of his own and is now in full mount. The choke is very tight but Holland is able to fight the hands and defend. Holland explodes and scrambles out but Meerschaert nearly takes the back of Holland in a scramble. Holland gets out of it and is now on top of Meerschaert, who clings on to him and drags Holland back down to the mat. Meerschaert has the back of Holland and is working on a rear-naked choke. He switches to a bulldog choke but Holland escapes and has Meerschaert in a rear-naked choke of his own. Holland uses the back position to start punching Meerschaert in the head and he moves into full mount. Holland is on top of Meerschaert raining own punches and elbows from mount. Holland is working for a rear-naked choke but Meerschaert is able to get out of it and the round is over.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Ant Walker scores the round: 10-9 Holland
Round 2
Round two begins. Meerschaert eats a big overhand right from Holland. He grabs hold of Holland’s legs and takes him to the mat with a double leg. Holland gets back to his feet but Meerschaert continues to hold him against the fence. Meerschaert gets a body lock takedown but Holland scrambles and lands on top of him. Holland is looking for a guillotine choke again but Meerschaert is able to get a double leg takedown and land on top. Meerschaert is now in the closed guard of Holland, with both men taking a breather after what has been a high-paced bout so far. Meerschaert lands some punches from up top and Holland nearly locks up a triangle choke but Meerschaert escapes. Now Meerschaert is looking to take the back of Holland, but Holland is doing a tremendous job of scrambling. He lands on top of Meerschaert in full mount and is raining down punches on his head. But there’s only 10 seconds left, and the round is soon over.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Ant Walker scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Round 3
The third and final round begins and the winner of this bout will win the fight. Holland starts off by taking the center of the Octagon and landing a low kick that briefly drops Meerschaert. Holland with a heavy left hook and he uses it to get inside and grab a hold of Meerschaert. Holland drags Meerschaert to the ground and is on top of him. Meerschaert grabs hold of a guillotine choke and Holland could be in trouble. But Holland is able to throw Meerschaert off of him and then take his back in a scramble. Holland is on top of Meerschaert raining down punches and elbows to his head. Meerschaert scrambles and is now on top of Holland, shoving him against the fence. Meerschaert is now the one punching Holland in the head, but Holland is able to stand back up to his feet. Meerschaert continues to push Holland against the cage and is looking to drag him to the mat. Holland is doing a good job of staying upright but Meerschaert lands a body lock takedown. Meerschaert continues to hold Holland against the fence until the end of the round, and now we are off to the judges.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert (29-28 Meerschaert)
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert (29-28 Meerschaert)
Ant Walker scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert (29-28 Meerschaert)
The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Gerald Meerschaert via Split Decision (29-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 123 of 187 | 65% | 164 of 236 | 5 of 6 | 83% | 2 | 0 | 3:21 |
| John Phillips | 0 | 51 of 154 | 33% | 53 of 156 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:49 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 60 of 90 | 66% | 60 of 90 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| John Phillips | 0 | 12 of 44 | 27% | 13 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 49 of 79 | 62% | 50 of 80 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| John Phillips | 0 | 38 of 102 | 37% | 39 of 103 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:23 | |
| 3 | Kevin Holland | 0 | 14 of 18 | 77% | 54 of 66 | 4 of 4 | 100% | 2 | 0 | 3:18 |
| John Phillips | 0 | 1 of 8 | 12% | 1 of 8 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:23 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | 123 of 187 | 65% | 74 of 127 | 33 of 42 | 16 of 18 | 95 of 153 | 11 of 12 | 17 of 22 |
| John Phillips | 51 of 154 | 33% | 21 of 108 | 16 of 29 | 14 of 17 | 43 of 132 | 7 of 16 | 1 of 6 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Holland | 60 of 90 | 66% | 31 of 56 | 20 of 25 | 9 of 9 | 51 of 80 | 6 of 6 | 3 of 4 |
| John Phillips | 12 of 44 | 27% | 2 of 26 | 3 of 8 | 7 of 10 | 11 of 40 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Kevin Holland | 49 of 79 | 62% | 30 of 54 | 12 of 16 | 7 of 9 | 44 of 73 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| John Phillips | 38 of 102 | 37% | 18 of 74 | 13 of 21 | 7 of 7 | 32 of 90 | 6 of 12 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Kevin Holland | 14 of 18 | 77% | 13 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 18 |
| John Phillips | 1 of 8 | 12% | 1 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 6 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
The southpaw Phillips presses forward at the bell, kept at range by a few push kicks from his taller opponent. Holland gets backed up to the wall and has to bail out as Phillips fires heavy combinations. Phillips keeps pressing and walks into a body kick from Holland, and it looks like a bad one. Phillips backpedals immediately, doubled over and protecting his body. Somehow, despite taking several additional front kicks and punches, Phillips stays on his feet and in the fight. Halfway through a busy opening round, Phillips is on the advance again. Holland catches him in the Thai clinch and drives a pair of hard knees up the center, but again Phillips swings back and Holland circles away after taking a glancing punch. Holland comes over the top of Phillips’ next pair of hooks with a clean counter left. After landing another body kick, Holland hits Phillips with an accidental kick to the groin. Referee Peter Hickmott calls time, Phillips takes 30 or 40 seconds to recover, and the middleweights get back to action with 90 seconds remaining. Both men stand still in place in the center, waiting for the other to strike. Holland acts first, hitting Phillips with another kick to the body, now one to the lead leg. Phillips blocks a right high kick but eats a straight right hand behind it. Inside the 10-second clapper, Holland drives Phillips to the ground with a flying knee, then tries to pound him out and runs out of time.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round 10-8 Holland
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-8 Holland
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Holland
Round 2
Holland lands a couple leg kicks before Phillips tags him with a hook and puts him on the mat in the center of the cage. Holland pops back to his feet and gives Phillips a touch of gloves and a nod of the head. Phillips rushes the American against the fence and swarms him with hooks; Holland puts up a high guard and makes a show of rolling as he blocks the punches, then circles away. Phillips keeps pressing and takes a stiff jab, now another hard shot to the body, and suddenly the Welshman looks to be slowing down. Halfway through the fight now, and Phillips continues to come forward, walking into front kicks and one-twos from the rangy Holland. Phillips leaps forward with a series of big right hands, one of which rattles the brain of Holland, who’s forced to circle away in a hurry. Phillips clinches Holland against the fence with 60 seconds remaining. Holland breaks free and looks up to the big screen to check on a newly opened cut over his right eye. Holland finishes the round strong, punishing Phillips with several hard body kicks and a left high kick that goes through Phillips’ glove.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round 10-9 Holland
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Holland
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Holland
Round 3
Holland hits an easy takedown in the opening seconds, changing levels as Phillips overcommits on a wind-up right hand. Phillips eats several punches before climbing back to his feet. As soon as they stand, Holland lifts and dumps Phillips back to the mat, then begins peppering the Welshman with punches while trying to take the back. Phillips is on his knees, leaning forward, Holland on his back with one hook in. Holland sits up to drill Phillips in the side of the head with an elbow, then pulls Phillips backward, still trying to establish back-mount. Holland still only has one hook in when he tries a rear-naked choke, allowing Phillips to twist out of it and drive forward. Holland takes him straight back to the ground, then steps over to full mount with two minutes left to fight. Phillips bucks and rolls, winding up on top in Holland’s half guard. Holland catches an arm as Phillips drops punches but can’t finish the armbar attempt. With 70 seconds remaining, Holland sits up and ankle-picks Phillips down at the base of the fence. This time, Holland explodes into the back-take and wraps his arm around Phillips’ neck for the RNC before Phillips can defend. Phillips resists for a few seconds, recognizes he’s stuck and taps out.
The Result
Kevin Holland def. John Phillips via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) R3 4:05
Aug 04, 2018
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thiago Santos | 0 | 69 of 153 | 45% | 81 of 167 | 3 of 7 | 42% | 1 | 0 | 9:40 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 31 of 55 | 56% | 81 of 110 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1:10 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thiago Santos | 0 | 30 of 74 | 40% | 37 of 83 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:46 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 7 of 19 | 36% | 21 of 37 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Thiago Santos | 0 | 14 of 28 | 50% | 14 of 28 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 2:05 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 20 of 28 | 71% | 42 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:10 | |
| 3 | Thiago Santos | 0 | 25 of 51 | 49% | 30 of 56 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 3:49 |
| Kevin Holland | 0 | 4 of 8 | 50% | 18 of 23 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thiago Santos | 69 of 153 | 45% | 50 of 131 | 14 of 17 | 5 of 5 | 20 of 44 | 2 of 5 | 47 of 104 |
| Kevin Holland | 31 of 55 | 56% | 20 of 41 | 6 of 9 | 5 of 5 | 17 of 39 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 15 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thiago Santos | 30 of 74 | 40% | 23 of 66 | 5 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 9 | 0 of 1 | 26 of 64 |
| Kevin Holland | 7 of 19 | 36% | 4 of 14 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 6 | |
| 2 | Thiago Santos | 14 of 28 | 50% | 6 of 18 | 5 of 7 | 3 of 3 | 8 of 17 | 2 of 4 | 4 of 7 |
| Kevin Holland | 20 of 28 | 71% | 13 of 20 | 5 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 8 | |
| 3 | Thiago Santos | 25 of 51 | 49% | 21 of 47 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 33 |
| Kevin Holland | 4 of 8 | 50% | 3 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
After a bit of leaping around and range-finding from both men, Santos gets hold of Holland and seems to be thinking about a takedown. Holland jumps guard, looking for an omoplata or straight armbar, but Santos escapes danger. Holland transitions to a standard juji gatame, and now Santos is in deep trouble. Santos rolls through, winding up in top position, then clasps his hands and breaks Holland's grip. Now it's "Marreta" on top, dropping hammers on Holland, who covers up and tries to roll with the punches and elbows. Santos pins down both of Holland's hands and staples his face with an elbow. Holland does well to cover up at first, but soon Santos is finding the mark with his heavy punches. Holland survives the barrage and locks down Santos' hands, holding both by the wrist. Holland is talking to Santos now, laughing at the Brazilian as he controls the wrists. Santos stands and allows Holland to do the same. Back on the feet, however, Holland appears to be favoring his left eye, blinking as he circles the outside. Santos grabs a rear waistlock and seems to be considering a suplex when the round comes to an end.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Santos
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Santos
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Santos
Round 2
The middleweights throw simultaneous left kicks to the body, and Holland gets the worse of the exchange with an inadvertant kick to the cup. Holland doesn't want time to rest, but he loses his mouthpiece twice as soon as referee Mike Beltran calls for action to resume. After the second time, Santos changes levels and plows Holland to the floor at the base of the fence. Santos frames up an arm-triangle choke, steps over to full mount and gets bucked off by Holland, who jumps back to his feet with three minutes left in the middle frame. Santos catches Holland near the fence and delivers a nasty kick to the body before dragging the American back to the ground. Holland winds up on his knees, with Santos in the wrestling ride position, dropping right hands. Santos stands up and lands a knee, but he gets caught trying a spinning backfist and Holland hurts him with a right hand. Holland tries to take control with a clinch on the fence, but Santos hugs him against the wall. Santos changes levels for a takedown, but Holland uses a kimura to sweep to top position in a flash. Now it's Holland on top, in side control with the better part of a minute on the clock. Santos blocks a mount attempt, so Holland tries a guillotine from half guard, considers pulling guard, then thinks better of it and finishes the round on top.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Holland
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Holland
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Holland
Round 3
Santos plants his hand and wheels up with a capoeira kick that appears to stun Holland. Seconds later, following a slow-motion trip takedown, Santos has Holland on the floor at the base of the fence. Santos tries to take the back, then transitions to full mount instead, again looking for an arm-triangle choke without the position to secure it. Holland bucks Santos out of mount, and referee Mike Beltran orders the American back to his feet with 2:40 on the clock. Santos pounces immediately, attacking the exhausted Holland with punches, knees and high kicks. Holland drops to his knees, fends off a 10-finger guillotine, but soon finds himself mounted again. Santos sits up to drop punches, but Holland covers up well, so Santos goes for the head-and-arm again. Holland rides out the choke and then flips backward to free Santos' grip, but it's Santos who finishes the fight on top.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Santos (29-28 Santos)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Santos (29-28 Santos)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Santos (29-27 Santos)
The Official Result
Thiago Santos def. Kevin Holland via Unanimous Decision (29-26, 29-27, 29-27) R3 5:00
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