Stephen Thompson nonetheless has life in MMA as he approaches his fortieth birthday. Thompson and Kevin Holland composed a symphony of punches, kicks, knees and elbows in the primary occasion of UFC Fight Night in Orlando, Florida on Saturday.
Thompson’s fights tend to be reasonably mundane. Opponents usually make use of wrestle-heavy techniques or are stifled by his adorned karate abilities. Holland dove into the deep finish, going blow-for-blow with Thompson and practically getting the perfect of the two-time UFC welterweight title challenger.
Holland ate Thompson’s finest photographs in Round 1 and fired again with twice the influence. An enormous proper hand wobbled Thompson and compelled a retreat to the fence. “Wonderboy” endured slicing elbows from Holland and whereas Thompson survived the change, he suffered welts and a minimize over his left eyebrow. Thompson landed flush on Holland a number of instances afterwards, together with a mix that snapped Holland’s head again, however Holland was remarkably unbothered.
Thompson fought extra competitively in Round 2, catching Holland with dynamic head kicks that had little impact. A blitz of punches by Thompson lastly shocked Holland if just for a second. Despite the bout’s aggressive nature, Holland opted out of wrestling in Rounds 2 and three. Holland took Thompson down however instantly invited Thompson again to his ft — a choice that may later hang-out him. The gesture was returned in variety by Thompson later within the battle when Holland slipped.
Thompson’s confidence grew tremendously because the battle progressed. Holland was coping with a broken proper hand — which he revealed after the battle occurred in Round 1. Holland’s nook reminded him it was an MMA battle and implored him to wrestle extra. It was too little, too late, nevertheless, as Thompson shucked off a number of takedown makes an attempt and punished Holland with strikes out of a online game: change bounce kicks, spinning wheel kicks and hook kicks all cracked in opposition to Holland’s cranium. Leg kicks additional immobilized Holland as he leaned in opposition to the fence and tried to roll with Thompson’s strikes. Thudding liver kicks in Round 4 compelled Holland into retreat. Oddly, it appeared that referee Dan Miragliotta had waved off the battle nevertheless it turned out that Thompson caught Holland with an unintended punch to the groin.
In the closing moments of Round 4, Thompson lastly grounded Holland and launched ground-and-pound however couldn’t elicit a stoppage. Holland’s nook conceded the battle between the fourth and fifth rounds as Holland may now not punch together with his proper hand. The battle was formally dominated a Round 4 TKO by way of nook stoppage.
“He’s robust as nails. Both of my arms damage proper now due to his arduous noggin,” Thompson instructed UFC commentator Daniel Cormier throughout his post-fight interview. “Kevin Holland is a beast. I knew I had to make use of my longest instruments, my kicks, in opposition to his 81-inch attain.
“I’m out right here for the lengthy haul.”
