Tonight’s UFC Orlando event was headlined by a welterweight contest featuring Stephen Thompson taking on Kevin Holland.
Thompson (17-6-1 MMA) had entered the contest looking to rebound, this after dropping back-to-back decisions losses to Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad. Prior to those setbacks, the former two-time welterweight title challenger had scored wins over Geoff Neal and Vicente Luque.
Meanwhile, Kevin Holland (23-9 MMA) was returning to action for the first time since suffering a first-round submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 279. Prior to that loss, ‘Trailblazer’ was coming off back-to-back stoppage victories over Alex Oliveira and Tim Means.
Tonight’s UFC Orlando main event proved to be a thrilling back and forth war. Both men got off significant shots in the opening round and the frantic pace just continued into round two. However, in rounds three and four ‘Wonderboy’ turned the tide completely in his favor and began landing everything in his arsenal on ‘Trailblazer’. After narrowly surviving to see the horn at the end of round four, Holland’s corned stopped the fight in before the fifth and final round could begin.
Official UFC Result: Stephen Thompson def. Kevin Holland via TKO at 5:00 of Round 4
Check out how the pros reacted to ‘Thompson vs. Holland’ below:
Let’s go @WonderboyMMA !
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) December 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/twrecks155/status/1599279809640951813
Kevin’s doing a kata in the octagon right now. #UFCOrlando
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) December 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/ALIAQUINTA/status/1599283556270104577
The way Kev is slipping, Wonderboy has the same side head kick set up off his cross #UFCOrlando
— Eric Nicksick (@Eric_XCMMA) December 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/chase_hooper/status/1599281041856135169
https://twitter.com/Justin_Gaethje/status/1599284920463282177
I’d like to see Kev reload the cross side this round, opposed to throw right, left. Go right, right. #UFCOrlando
— Eric Nicksick (@Eric_XCMMA) December 4, 2022
Really competitive fight! Nothing worse than liking both athletes and having to watch someone lose but this is the game! Let’s go fellas! #UFCOrlando
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) December 4, 2022
The broken hand is more likely from the punch. Forearm normally from blocks. #UFCOrlando
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) December 4, 2022
Loving this fight!!! @ufc @Trailblaze2top @WonderboyMMA ! #UFCOrlando #UFCFightNight #ufc #mma #thompsonvsholland
— Julianna Peña (@VenezuelanVixen) December 4, 2022
Post-fight reactions to Stephen Thompson defeating Kevin Holland at UFC Orlando:
Kevin Holland sucks and is a bitch don’t ever speak my name again.
— Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) December 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/francis_ngannou/status/1599289443583950849
https://twitter.com/Justin_Gaethje/status/1599289661511598080
What a fight #UFCOrlando
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) December 4, 2022
Who would you like to see Stephen Thompson fight next following his TKO victory over Kevin Holland at tonight’s UFC Orlando event? Share your thoughts in the comment section PENN Nation!