Revealed on 4 Dec 2022 9:26 pm (UK Time)
Stephen “Wonder Boy” Thompson and Kevin Holland have been seen hanging out collectively throughout downtime all through Struggle Week. Nonetheless, as soon as their welterweight conflict started, they threw their new discovered friendship out the window and commenced pummeling each other with strikes, kicks and elbows. The outcome was an entertaining essential occasion that left the sellout crowd on the Amway Heart in Orlando standing and cheering in approval. General, UFC Orlando delivered on its promise to be an entertaining Struggle Card. There’s rather a lot to unpack right here; with out additional ado, let’s get into it!
Thompson vs. Holland
Stephen Thompson and Kevin Holland made no secret of the truth that they every most popular to strike versus grapple and that they might placed on a present for the followers in Orlando on Saturday. Thompson is without doubt one of the most famous strikers within the historical past of the welterweight division, and he proved on Saturday that he’s additionally an elite kicker. Holland could not favor to grapple, however he’s adequate in that space of the game; he ought to have opted to grapple extra as a result of Thompson’s blows have been extra exact and highly effective than his all through the match.
In spherical one, each fighter’s loved moments of success. Thompson landed an awesome left jab early within the struggle that made a visual affect on Holland. Holland landed a pleasant overhand proper of his personal, halfway by means of the spherical. By the top of the spherical, Thompson was bleeding from a lower over his left eye and Holland appeared to be in management. Issues started to alter in spherical two when Thompson landed a placing flurry that clearly harm Holland. Holland countered with a knee to Thompson’s face however “Wonder Boy” was unphased. Holland scored a takedown late within the spherical however determined to face up as a substitute of grapple; the group roared in approval however the technique proved to be detrimental.
In spherical three, Holland scored one other takedown and once more determined to face to his toes as a substitute of benefit from the second. When the 2 males stood on their toes, Thompson once more started to dominate. Not solely did he land well-timed strikes, he additionally landed a number of kicks to Holland’s torso and head. Thompson dominated spherical 4 as properly, touchdown a liver-kick late within the spherical that clearly harm Holland. It regarded as if Thompson may get a stoppage however Holland survived.
Earlier than the beginning of the fifth spherical, it grew to become clear that Holland’s proper hand was compromised. It appeared that he injured his hand whereas trying to dam one among Thompson’s kicks. The referee went to Holland’s nook and decided that the fighter was too injured to proceed. Stephen Thompson was awarded the TKO victory and the group cheered in approval!
Barberena vs. dos Anjos
At 38-years-old, Rafael dos Anjos is without doubt one of the most seasoned veterans within the welterweight division. His opponent, Bryan Barberena, discovered the exhausting manner that dos Anjos nonetheless has rather a lot left within the tank. Early in spherical one, the 2 fighters started grappling alongside the aspect of the cage. Dos Anjos was capable of get the most effective of the alternate and switch it right into a takedown in his favor. By the top of the spherical, dos Anjos had amassed a substantial quantity of floor management time and was clearly in charge of the struggle.
Initially of spherical two, dos Anjos scored one more takedown and it grew to become evident that he was starting to brake Barberena’s will. After Barberena fought to his toes, dos Anjos rapidly took him down for a 3rd time. Dos Anjos then established an anaconda chokehold; it regarded as if Barberena nonetheless had time to maneuver, however he tapped out as a substitute. It was a dominant efficiency for dos Anjos. In the meantime, it’s again to the drafting board for Bryan Barberena.
Nicolau vs. Schnell
For the primary half of spherical one, flyweight veterans Matheus Nicolau and Matthew Christopher Schnell sized each other up however didn’t inflict a lot harm on one another. That modified after Nicolau put collectively a pleasant placing flurry that despatched Schnell to the mat. Though Schnell didn’t seem like in any severe hassle, the mix was sufficient to place Nicolau in clear management of the match.
Initially of spherical two, Nicolau picked up proper the place he left off. He despatched Schnell to the mat with a jab. Schnell rose to his toes rapidly however Nicolau wouldn’t be deterred, sending Schnell to the mat once more with a thunderous overhand proper. He then pounced on his opponent and commenced pummeling him with punches till the referee was compelled to step in and cease the struggle. It was a dramatic TKO victory for Nicolau because the crowed roared in approval!
Tuivasa vs. Pavlovich
Tai Tuivasa has change into one of the crucial standard fighters on the UFC’s roster however he was no match for the ability of heavyweight contender Sergei Pavlovich on Saturday evening. Pavlovich’s barrage of punches have been exact and impactful. Tuivasa went down early, managed to face to his toes, and was then pummeled once more. Ultimately, Tuivasa may solely cowl himself and was not combating again. The referee was compelled to cease the struggle. The whole ordeal took all of 54 seconds!
Hermansson vs. Dolidze
Middleweight veteran Jack Hermansson gave the impression to be in charge of his bout in opposition to Roman Dolidze till issues took a sudden flip within the second spherical. After a comparatively uneventful first interval, Hermansson started to choose up steam and land punches with elevated frequency. Nonetheless, Dolidze turned the tables after Hermansson scored a takedown. He outmaneuvered his opponent and set up a leg lock after which flipped Hermansson onto his abdomen. He then started pummeling Hermansson with punches till he may not struggle again. The referee stopped the struggle and Roman Dolidze emerged with a shock upset TKO victory!
Anders vs. Daukaus
Kyle Daukaus started spherical one by touchdown heavy calf kicks in opposition to his welterweight opponent, Eryk Anders. Anders responded with a knee to the face of Daukaus that despatched him crashing to the mat. Within the remaining minute of the spherical, the 2 fighters skilled an unintended conflict of heads that opened a lower over the best eye of Daukaus. In spherical two, Anders threw warning to the wind and used a barrage of punches to ship Daukaus to the mat twice. The second time he went down, Anders jumped on him and commenced pummeling him with punches. At that time, referee Keith Peterson had seen sufficient; he stepped in and stopped the struggle, declaring Anders the winner.
Value vs. Rowe
Welterweight veterans Niko Value and Philip Rowe engaged in a seesaw battle that began with a flying knee by Rowe early within the first spherical. Value responded with a flurry of punches that made a visual affect on his opponent. Within the waning seconds of the spherical, Rowe landed a superbly timed proper jab that brought about Value’s head to snap backwards and returned management of the struggle over to him.
Nearly two minutes into the second spherical, Rowe executed a pleasant stage change and takedown, adopted by a physique triangle. Value was capable of escape and struggle to his toes with 30 seconds left within the spherical, however the harm had been achieved; Rowe was now in full management and dictating the tempo of the struggle.
Value determined to go all out initially of spherical three. He landed an unbelievable placing flurry that despatched Rowe to the mat. It appeared he may be capable to full the stoppage. Rowe wouldn’t be deterred and finally fought to his toes. He landed a superbly timed proper jab and harm Value badly. He then pummeled Value with a flurry of punches that rendered him defenseless and brought about the referee to cease the struggle, giving him the TKO victory!
Main Takeaways
There is a effective line between exhibiting your opponent respect and being too pleasant. Kevin Holland’s pleasant character could have price him the struggle in opposition to Stephen Thompson. Thompson was the extra exact striker on Saturday evening, and his kicks have been equally as spectacular as his punches. Usually, Holland is a greater striker than whoever he faces within the octagon, however that was not the case in opposition to Thompson. Realizing this, Holland ought to have taken the struggle to the mat; he’s a greater grappler than Thompson is. Nonetheless, whereas hanging out with Thompson and conducting joint interviews, the 2 males informed reporters that they might stand on their toes and struggle. Holland ought to have by no means agreed to this together with his opponent. The goal is to win in any respect price. Holland ought to learn The Artwork of Battle earlier than his subsequent coaching camp; it is going to make him a greater fighter in the long term.
What’s Subsequent
The world’s most famous blended martial arts group returns subsequent week with UFC 282 from T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas. The essential occasion of the night will function Jan Blachowicz versus Magomed Ankalaev for the vacant Mild Heavyweight title. As all the time, we’ll have all the newest updates concerning the outcomes of the fights, in addition to in depth evaluation accessible proper right here at World in Sport!
Till subsequent time, deal with yourselves, and one another.
