via Getty
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 04: Kevin Holland prepares to fight Thiago Santos of Brazil in their middleweight fight during the UFC 227 event inside Staples Center on August 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
via Getty
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 04: Kevin Holland prepares to fight Thiago Santos of Brazil in their middleweight fight during the UFC 227 event inside Staples Center on August 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
UFC middleweight Kevin Holland had one of the strangest outings of his career at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs Walker. ‘The Trailblazer’ was involved in a controversial No Contest result against Kyle Daukaus on account of an accidental clash of heads. Upon review by the referees in attendance, it was deemed an NC in a rather surprising turn of events.
Holland is now 0-2-1 in his last three fights and he certainly hasn’t quite the year that 2020 ended up being. He’s struggled to find his footing and seems to be at the wrong end of a fair slice of misfortune as well. However, things can quickly turn around for the 21-7 fighter who prioritizes high activity above all else.
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Also Read: ‘Let’s Renew My Contract’- Thiago Santos Calls Out Dana White After Decision Win Over Johnny Walker
Holland looked to make a statement
In his post-fight interview, Kevin Holland pulled back the curtain and revealed that he planned to set up a dominant wrestling game early on. Holland was famously taken down multiple times by his last two opponents bringing about criticism surrounding his takedown defense. It’s clear that Kevin Holland wanted to make a statement, however, things didn’t quite pan out the way he probably imagined they would.
Holland showing off that Hendrickstan takedown defense early
[ #UFCVegas38 | Main Card LIVE on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/NeQwzWe4C2— UFC (@ufc) October 3, 2021
“I felt great bro. My supersonic hearing was on point. I heard every fu*king thing that was going on around me. I heard coaches, I heard his coaches, I heard DC fu*king trying to whisper over there. I was feeling good. I wasn’t going to get taken down.”
“I had planned on spending the first round stopping every fu*king takedown. I planned on spending the second round knocking him the f**k out.”
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“I was just completely off my measurements, I guess. A statement needed to be made for the world. A statement needed to be made for Instagram so they can shut the hell up with all this wrestling defense bullsh*t. As far as I’m concerned, Hendrickstan lives”
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Holland will most likely rematch Kyle Daukaus given the way their fight ended. Daukaus expressed a sense of frustration at the overall situation as he believes he was on his way towards a win. Both men certainly know how to put on a show and their rematch will be one to look out for.
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