Kevin Holland is sticking round at welterweight after a formidable efficiency to beat Vicente Luque within the opening combat on the principle card at UFC 316.
After practically scoring the end on the ft within the opening spherical, Holland tripped up Luque off a kick after which instantly snatched a nasty D’arce choke that ended the combat only a few seconds later. The top got here at 1:03 within the second spherical as Holland picks up his second win in a row total since returning to 170 kilos.
“He wished a battle, so I wished to provide him a battle,” Holland stated in regards to the win. “No matter he wished, I wished to provide it to him. I’m actually, actually good at doing a D’arce choke. My arms are simply viciously lengthy. I can put you in a D’arce choke from wherever.”
A takedown try from Luque led to Holland unleashing a barrage of punches whereas preventing to remain on his ft. The punches have been touchdown with such power that Luque was pressured to desert his wrestling and again out once more to reset on the ft.
With room to work, Holland appeared sturdy together with his mixtures however an inside elbow blasted Luque and he was clearly rattled from the shot. Regardless of being wobbled briefly, Luque got here proper again at him with some highly effective pictures and that allowed him sufficient time to get well.
Because the second spherical acquired began, Luque appeared to settle into his putting slightly extra, which led to him throwing a low kick however Holland was fast to counter by grabbing the foot and tripping him right down to the bottom. Luque barely had an opportunity to react as he tried to stand up once more however Holland instantly latched onto the D’arce choke earlier than falling right down to the bottom to lock on the submission.
Luque tried desperately to interrupt unfastened however there was no escape as he tapped out to finish the combat with Holland getting the second spherical end.
Afterwards, Holland had a callout prepared to fireside and he instantly took intention at former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington.
“Colby Covington, you’re the worst man within the welterweight division,” Holland shouted. “I like beating up on sorry individuals. Luque was a troublesome combat, Colby can be a straightforward one.”
