After the first two fights of the UFC 302 pay-per-view card went to a decision, Kevin Holland ignited the crowd in Newark with a first-round finish of Michal Oleksiejczuk. Holland had to fight through early controversy as a generously-priced betting favorite but put an exclamation point on his middleweight return.
The official stoppage came at 1:34 of the opening round. Oleksiejczuk, who did not tap out despite his arm being compromised, contested the referee stoppage, but the official result remained a technical submission.
Kevin Holland Reacts to His Own Win at UFC 302
Kevin Holland: I'm the best gatekeeper you guys have ever seen pic.twitter.com/5MqZi1NeG1
— Best MMA Moments (@XcellentMMA) June 2, 2024
Immediately following his win, Kevin Holland celebrated in front of the crowd in New Jersey and spoke with former president Donald Trump. In his post-fight interview, Holland called himself the “best gatekeeper” due to his ability to remain at the tail end of the promotional rankings.
Holland said:
“I kind of feel like I’m just the best gatekeeper you guys have ever seen. I’ll fight anybody up, I’ll fight anybody down, I don’t give a f***, just keep Kev around.”
Per his comments, the win snapped a two-fight losing streak for Holland. Overall in the UFC, the ‘Trail Blazer’ owns an updated record of 13-8 with one no-contest. He has been ranked as high as no. 10 in the middleweight division and no. 12 as a welterweight.
Kevin Holland Appears to Break Michal Oleksiejczuk’s Arm at UFC 302
KEVIN HOLLAND BREAKS MICHAL’S ARM IN HALF #UFC302 https://t.co/2AyFSHuQiZ
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) June 2, 2024
In his return to 185 pounds at UFC 302, Kevin Holland improved to 26-11 with a first-round armbar submission of Michal Oleksiejczuk. The finishing sequence came after the 31-year-old was knocked down with an overhand right but quickly transitioned to attack a submission off his back as the Pole attempted to follow up his handiwork.
As Holland pulled on the right arm of Oleksiejczuk, the 29-year-old’s elbow appeared to snap, causing the American to plead his case for a stoppage with the in-cage official. However, the stoppage would not come as requested, forcing Holland to continue cranking on the armbar and twist his opponent’s arm in an unsettling direction.
Oleksiejczuk claimed that his arm was not broken but Holland noted backstage that he “felt a pop” in the elbow joint. The official result would be his second consecutive technical submission loss after being choked unconscious by Michel Pereira at UFC 299.
Also Read: Makhachev vs. Poirier: Exciting UFC 302 Outcome
Kevin Holland’s UFC career
Kevin Holland labeled himself as a gatekeeper at UFC 302 but has not had the career to fit the stereotype. In just six years with the promotion, Holland has already racked up 22 fights in the Octagon and tied the record for most wins in a single calendar year with five victories in 2020, thus giving himself the nickname ‘The Trail Blazer.’
Due to his activity, fight style, and personality, Holland has risen to become one of the most popular fighters in MMA. While he has created several highlight-reel moments and seen time as a ranked fighter in two weight classes, Holland has yet to break into the top five of any division.
With the win over Michal Oleksiejczuk, Holland picked up his eighth post-fight performance bonus with a Performance of the Night recognition. Since 2021, he has alternated two-fight streaks of wins and losses except a no-contest against Kyle Daukaus in 2021.
About the Author
Jaren Kawada is a freelance sports writer from Indianapolis, Indiana by way of Honolulu, Hawaii with a strong passion for MMA and sports betting. Kawada has also written for Sportskeeda MMA, FanSided MMA, and BetSided as a combat sports analyst. Follow on X/Twitter at @jarenkawada1 or on Instagram at @kawadajaren.
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