Kevin Christian
Career Averages
Loss Methods (2)
Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Tafa | 0 | 21 of 31 | 67% | 22 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Kevin Christian | 0 | 13 of 21 | 61% | 13 of 21 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Junior Tafa | 0 | 21 of 31 | 67% | 22 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Kevin Christian | 0 | 13 of 21 | 61% | 13 of 21 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Tafa | 21 of 31 | 67% | 20 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 19 | 1 of 2 | 10 of 10 |
| Kevin Christian | 13 of 21 | 61% | 2 of 7 | 2 of 3 | 9 of 11 | 13 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Junior Tafa | 21 of 31 | 67% | 20 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 19 | 1 of 2 | 10 of 10 |
| Kevin Christian | 13 of 21 | 61% | 2 of 7 | 2 of 3 | 9 of 11 | 13 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Towering light heavies Christian (9-3; 0-1 UFC) and Tafa (6-5; 2-5 UFC) go to work at the direction of referee Matt Wynne. Tafa is tall and long, but Christian is ridiculously huge, and they exchange hard shots immediately. Christian hacks away at Tafa’s front leg with nasty kicks from both sides, and Tafa is reacting right away. Tafa does not like the kicks one bit, but he’s countering with huge punches up top, several of which land. Christian is hurt and backing away, but manages to recover. The Brazilian goes right back to work on Tafa’s lead leg, which is visibly chewed up. Tafa is favoring the bad leg, but he plants on it anyway and floors Christian with a pair of flush hooks. Christian stumbles away.
Tafa gives chase, puts him down with a final right hand, then drops at least 10 jackhammer right elbows from top position before Wynne moves in to save the unconscious Brazilian.
Definitive finish to a blissfully defense-free scrap by “The Juggernaut.”
The Official Result
Junior Tafa def. Kevin Christian R1 2:42 via KO (Punches and Elbows)
Expert Picks (12)
Angelo leans Kevin Christian despite Junior Tafa being the better striker, because Tafa's takedown defense and ground game are terrible. He believes if Christian can get the fight to the ground, he will win. He expects a finish either way and mentions the under on rounds.
Big Brady picks Junior Tafa to win by first-round knockout. He calls Kevin Christian the worst fighter in UFC history, citing his lack of volume, chin, and wrestling. Brady notes Tafa has two UFC wins by knockout and believes Christian's only path is a triangle choke, which is unlikely. He trusts Tafa's power to finish early.
Cody picks Tafa but is hesitant, noting his poor cardio and submission vulnerability. He believes Tafa will likely win by knockout in the first round, but advises live betting Christian if it goes longer.
Connor picks Christian as a fun upset pick, noting that Tafa is a chaos fighter who either wins in the first round or loses. He points out that Tafa has no grappling and could get taken down or submitted by Christian's length. However, he admits Christian is bad and uncoordinated, making this a low-confidence pick.
Daniel Vreeland reluctantly picks Junior Tafa to win by knockout, but is wary of Tafa's poor ground game and history of losing as a favorite. He notes Kevin Christian's poor distance management but sees Tafa's power as the deciding factor.
Tafa is the favorite but his advantages are baked into the odds. He has bad cardio and ground game, while Christian is slow and hittable but could exploit Tafa's weaknesses if he grapples. The fight is likely to end inside the distance but odds are terrible. No bet recommended.
James is very confident in Junior Tafa because he believes Kevin Christian is a low-level UFC fighter with poor striking defense and cardio. He expects Tafa's superior boxing and kickboxing to lead to an early knockout, likely in the first round.
Lucrative James picks Junior Tafa to win via knockout. He considers Kevin Christian one of the worst fighters on the roster and believes Tafa is a much better striker. He expects Tafa's takedown defense to keep the fight standing where he has a clear advantage.
Despite normally fading Tafa, the host picks him here because Christian's grappling is not UFC level. He expects Tafa's initial grappling defense to keep the fight standing, and then Tafa will land a big knockout. The host notes Tafa's power and that Christian is hittable and lacks durability.
Paul picks Christian as an underdog, citing Tafa's history of gassing and getting submitted. He believes Christian's submission skills and durability could lead to an upset, especially if he survives the first round.
The MMA Guru picks Junior Tafa, despite his 6-5 record, believing he will catch Kevin Christian coming in. He notes Tafa looked improved in his last fight and dropped Billy Elekana. He also comments on Christian's background, suggesting it affects his pick.
Zane picks Tafa because he believes Kevin Christian is a bad athlete—flat-footed, slow, uncoordinated, and ungainly despite his height. He thinks Tafa, despite his own flaws, has enough power and aggression to finish Christian early. He notes that Christian is in Stefan Struve territory but without the toughness, and that Tafa should be able to beat him.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Elekana | 1 | 17 of 23 | 73% | 19 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Kevin Christian | 0 | 14 of 17 | 82% | 14 of 17 | 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 | Billy Elekana | 1 | 17 of 23 | 73% | 19 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Kevin Christian | 0 | 14 of 17 | 82% | 14 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Elekana | 17 of 23 | 73% | 11 of 15 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 6 | 8 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 11 |
| Kevin Christian | 14 of 17 | 82% | 0 of 3 | 6 of 6 | 8 of 8 | 14 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Billy Elekana | 17 of 23 | 73% | 11 of 15 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 6 | 8 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 11 |
| Kevin Christian | 14 of 17 | 82% | 0 of 3 | 6 of 6 | 8 of 8 | 14 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Elekana (-250); Christian (+210)
Round 1
Light heavyweights wrap up the preliminary portion of the card, as a pair of gunslinging 30-year-olds ply their trade against one another. Elekana (8-2, 1-1 UFC) put the stink of his first stoppage loss behind him by winning on the scorecards against Ibo Aslan in July. Meanwhile, Brazilian finisher Christian (9-2, 0-0 UFC) has never competed into the third round as a professional. Something might have to give here, and referee Chris Tognoni will be the sole arbiter of this bout. It is a bout that commences with a respectful touching of gloves.
It is a game of leg kicks right off the bat for the two strikers, with the longer Christian getting Elekana’s attention with his distant shots. Elekana chambers and fires a heavier one, and Tognoni tells them to close their fists as they are leading with outstretched fingers. Legs continue to get kicked on both sides, but punches are at a premium thus far. Christian chops down the lead leg with audible blows, and Elekana tosses his own back and tries to check others. Christian splits the guard with a front kick, and Tognoni calls time to force the fighters to close their hands. Christian apologizes, but he gets right back to leading with his fingers. The commentary team is chattering about how the fighters basically ignored his instructions, and that it is a timely complaint given the result of the recent heavyweight title tilt.
All the while, Christian is chipping away with his kicks that land cleanly, and he has struck so hard the top of Elekana’s right shin has swelled up massively. Elekana no-sells this and opens up with a massive right hand, sending Christian flying across the cage. The Brazilian hits his back and instinctively turns to his side and then to his knees to shell up. Elekana beans him on the sides and back of the head while Christian is moving, but what are rules anymore and how are they never enforced? With Christian on his knees in a daze, Elekana slides into back control, gets his hooks in and attacks the rear-naked choke.
The Brazilian frantically taps almost immediately, surrendering many times on the floor while Tognoni is on the wrong side and does not see them. Elekana does not feel the taps, and Tognoni still does not register them, so Christian goes out. Tognoni checks on the now-limp limb of the defeated Brazilian, and he waves the fight off.
Elekana dismounts his wrecked adversary who has blood streaming down his face, and he walks off as Christian’s face swells up like a balloon. The victorious Californian thanks Tognoni personally, saying that he feels he performs better under his care—this is a strange statement, because this is the first time Tognoni has handled any of Elekana’s pro fights from a referee standpoint.
The Official Result
Billy Elekana def. Kevin Christian R1 3:33 via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Billy Elekana, citing his counter-striking, pace control, and range management. He notes Kevin Christian is tall but doesn't use his length effectively, swinging wild. Elekana has better hands and decent takedown defense. He expects a late finish or decision, but warns that Elekana scored only 44 points in a win, making him a risky DFS play at his price.
Big Brady picks Billy Elekana but is not confident, calling Kevin Christian one of the worst Contender Series signings. He criticizes Christian's low volume, lack of power, and poor takedown defense. However, he also notes Elekana is nothing special and expects a horrible, low-volume fight. He predicts a decision win for Elekana.
Connor agrees with Zane, noting that Elekana is a big favorite and that the matchup is a failure of matchmaking. He implies Elekana should not be such a heavy favorite, but still picks him.
Lucrative James picks Billy Elekana, criticizing Kevin Christian's skill level and calling him one of the worst fighters he's watched. He notes Christian's reliance on guard submissions and lack of striking technique, while Elekana is more well-rounded and should win easily. He acknowledges Christian's size and wildness could lead to a submission, but favors Elekana.
Kevin Christian is not UFC-level talent. Elekana will land more and more shots, Christian will break down, and Elekana will get a TKO finish.
The MMA Guru picks Billy Elekana, citing his athleticism and low kicks. He criticizes Kevin Christian's wide stance and poor striking defense. He believes Elekana will chop at Christian's legs and win by decision, possibly 30-27. He notes Christian's Contender Series win was unimpressive.
Zane picks Elekana because he at least resembles a good MMA fighter when not pressed, while Kevin Christian is a huge but awkward fighter who fights like a small guy and tends to grapple from his back. He notes that Elekana could still get submitted off his back, but Christian's style makes him vulnerable.
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