Advertisement
Holland looks to maintain momentum
Kevin Holland will look to maintain the incredible momentum he built in 2020 when he faces Derek Brunson in the main event of a UFC Fight Night at the APEX Facility in Las Vegas on Sunday 21 March.
* Get DStv to watch all the UFC action *
Holland (21-5) claimed five wins in the calendar year 2020 – a UFC record tied with Neil Magny in 2014 and Roger Huerta in 2007 – though the 28-year-old American’s span of defeating Anthony Hernandez, Joaquin Buckley, Darren Stewart, Charlie Ontiveros and Ronaldo Souza was just 210 days, compared to 266 and 308 for Magny and Huerta respectively.
The self-appointed ‘any time, anywhere’ fighter, Holland has called out Brunson for his unusual technique and promised to finish his Fight Night opponent: “He just looks weird when he warms up. He just strikes so funny to me.
“I want to beat him up because I don’t like the way he strikes. It just looks awkward. It’s like a disrespect to striking. It’s sad that he’s knocked out strikers before with that weird striking.”
Brunson (21-7) comes into the match on the back of three straight wins, though he has not been in the Octagon since August last year when he finished Edmen Shahbazyan with a third-round TKO.
The 37-year-old is confident that he can end Holland’s hot streak, arguing that he doesn’t have the requisite technical ability.
“His skill set isn’t up there with the guys that I fought, but he’s a young, hungry guy, confident,” Brunson explained. “That says a lot. Whenever you’re confident, having fun, the fans are on your side, you’re just riding that momentum.
“I’ve seen guys in this sport just being in it for a while is that guys are getting the most out of their career. They’re performing at a high level. But ultimately, I don’t think really that skill set values that. But sometimes when you’re hot, when you’re confident, that’s what you need at the time.”
The Fight Night will also feature Australian Tai Tuivasa (10-3) facing off against fellow up-and-comer Don’Tale Mayes (8-4). The former is hoping to claim victory and move closer to a breakout fight against a top-ranked opponent.
“I think any couple of wins in the heavyweight division will get you a good fight," Tuivasa said. "For myself, now, I think I rushed that at the start. But to be honest, I'm a prizefighter. I don't care if they're ranked or not; if they're paying me my money, I'm going to rock up and fight. So my next goal is to win these next couple of fights and renegotiate a good contract and then go from there.”
The main card also sees Gregor Gillespie and Brad Riddell face off in a lightweight match, Song Kenan takes on Max Griffin in the welterweight division, and the event opens with Cheyenne Buys battling Montserrat Ruiz in a women’s strawweight clash.
BROADCAST DETAILS
Sunday, 21 March | SS Action, Variety 3 and Grandstand | 2-7am
UFC Fight Night: Brunson v Holland – Main card
- Main event: Middleweight: Derek Brunson v Kevin Holland
- Lightweight: Gregor Gillespie v Brad Riddell
- Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa v Don’Tale Mayes
- Welterweight: Song Kenan v Max Griffin
- Women’s strawweight: Cheyenne Buys v Montserrat Ruiz
Advertisement