Today’s UFC Vegas 23 event is headlined by a key middleweight bout featuring Marvin Vettori taking on short-notice replacement Kevin Holland.
Vettori (16-4-1 MMA) was originally slated to square off with Darren Till at the event. However, the Liverpool native was forced to withdraw from the contest due to injury.
Thankfully, fellow middleweight contender Kevin Holland was eager to get back in the Octagon following his dismal showing against Derek Brunson, and thus Vettori was able to remain on the card.
‘The Italian Dream’ will enter today’s UFC Vegas 23 headliner with Kevin Holland on a four-fight winning streak, his latest being a dominant decision victory over Jack Hermansson. Marvin Vettori’s last loss came by way of split decision to reigning UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in April of 2018, a fight which the Italian is eager to get back.
Meanwhile, Kevin Holland (21-6 MMA) had his five-fight winning streak snapped by Derek Brunson in his most recent effort on March 20. Prior to the setback, ‘Trailblazer’ was coming off of a sensational knockout win over Jacare Souza at UFC 256.
Round one of the UFC Vegas 23 headliner begins and Kevin Holland lands a pair of low kicks to get things started. Marvin Vettori paws with his jab but Holland continues to pepper him with kicks early. Holland with an accidental kick to the groin and we have a break in the action. Vettori recovers and we restart. Kevin Holland lands another good low kick and then leaps in with a right hand. Vettori lands a jab but ‘Trailblazer’ counters with a crisp right. ‘The Italian Dream’ shoots in and presses Holland up against the cage. The American quickly gets off the fence but Vettori remains on him with pressure. Marvin forces another clinch and looks for a trip takedown. The fighters break and begin trading leather. Marvin Vettori gets in a pair of good punches. He once again forces the clinch and pushes Kevin Holland up against the cage. The Italian drags his opponent to the canvas with ninety second remaining in the opening round. Good ground and pound now for Vettori. Holland scrambles back up to his feet but eats another combination. The horn sounds to end round one.
That was cool pic.twitter.com/NBs7uKQHL6
— MS (@UFC_Obsessed) April 10, 2021
Round two of the UFC Vegas 23 main event begins and Kevin Holland lands a good right hand early. Marvin Vettori presses forward and forces the clinch. He shoots in and drags ‘Trailblazer’ back down to the canvas. Good ground and pound now from the Italian. Holland is working for some submission attempts but Vettori is wise to those and just continues to unload punishment. Marvin postures up and lands some big shots. Kevin Holland scrambles back up to his feet but eats a number of strikes in the process. The horn sounds to end round two.
Round three of the UFC Vegas 23 main event begins and Marvin Vettori quickly scores a takedown and begins working from the full guard of Kevin Holland. He passes to half guard and then moves to full mount. That was beautiful. He looks to setup an arm-triangle. This is locked in. Holland manages to escape and scramble to his feet. That doesn’t last long though, as ‘The Italian Dream’ quickly forces the clinch and pushes Holland back up against the cage. Both men land good strikes from the clinch position. Kevin Holland breaks free and lands a pair of good shots before the horn sounds to end the round.
"This is fun right?" @Trailblaze2Top exchanging some words in the last moments of RD 3. #UFCVegas23 pic.twitter.com/TOTlIvTacy
— UFC (@ufc) April 10, 2021
Round four of the UFC Vegas 23 headliner begins and Marvin Vettori lands a good punch to get things started. Kevin Holland replies with a good left and then a right behind it. Vettori shoots in the and looks to secure an early takedown. He does just that and moves to half guard position. He begins unloading some good punches. Holland scrambles but gives up his back. Marvin continues to unload punches but ‘Trailblazer’ is back up to his feet. ‘The Italian Dream’ drags him right back down to the canvas and moves to full mount. Holland is able to get back to half guard position on the bottom but is just eating shot after shot from Vettori. More ground and pound from the Italian before the horn sounds to end round four.
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1381001687603703810
The fifth and final round of the UFC Vegas 23 main event begins and Kevin Holland lands a big right hand that appears to stun Marvin Vettori. The Italian immediately shoots for a takedown and gets it. He begins working some ground and pound but Holland is fighting hard to get back up to his feet. He does, but then Vettori plants him right back down. Marvin moves to half guard and begins working some solid punches. He moves to full mount. Kevin Holland scrambles and is able to buck himself free and get back up. Marvin Vettori continues his relentless pressure and drags Holland back down to the floor.
Official UFC Vegas 23 Result: Marvin Vettori def. Kevin Holland by unanimous decision (50-44 x3)
Who would you like to see Vettori fight next following his decision victory over Holland this evening in Las Vegas? Share your thoughts in the comment section PENN Nation!