UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Holland

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

Cortez vs. Ribas
Amanda Ribas, DEC
Pulling for Ribas but this fight is damn near even

Hill vs. Ducote
Emily Ducote, DEC
Close fight, both women are good strikers. I think Ducote will win a split decision

Jauregui vs. Nunes
Yazmin Jauregui, TKO, R3
Yazmin will put a pace on Istela that she can't handle. You can tell the ufc see's her as a star and want to build up her record, rightly so. I think she's gonna be a contender if she can stay on track

So doubling down on retirement means main event against Wonderboy 

Thompson vs. Holland
Stephen Thompson, DEC
I think people are writing Wonderboy off too soon. Has he slowed down, absolutely. But those last two losses are to top 10 welterweights who are both elite grapplers and terrible matchups for him, and before that he has wins over Neal and Luque, who are both better than Holland imo. I think he's still got enough of a technique advantage to win a point-striking battle and get the decision

Nice to see Holland back vs Choirboy 

This is a pleasant surprise. Looking forward ro Thompson v. Holland. 


Also, if Jauregui fights like she did last time Nunes is fooked. 

* Edited at 10.05.2022, 1:21 PM ET *

You guys must have about 1 total braincell if you believed dude was set to retire 🤣

that's one more than I'll ever have :(

I don't believe WB's ever fought a guy as lengthy as Holland in the UFC, but Holland's never fought a striker as a good technically as WB, he's definitely dealt with dangerous ones without getting KO'ed though so that's something too, it's just that WB is such a tasking puzzle for anyone on the feet. And sure Holland can try and wrestle, but his offensive isn't always the greatest in the world. Sure he's taken down MWs before but if you look deep into it the three guys he did takedown, you get:

GM3 with a TDD of 29%
Phillips with a TDD of 7% 
Ontiveros (a WW sized fighter) with a TDD of 30%

So even though WB did get out grappled by Burns and Belal, those are two guys who have grappling bases or at least mix up wrestling in most of their fights.

This will most likely be a striking fight and apart from the reach and length of Holland that WB's never experienced in the UFC yet, I think WB wins this. Maybe those first few rounds will be a bit harder for WB to handle given he'll have to adjust to not being the longer guy in the fight, so his kicks might not give him as much separation as it does when he fights other fighters. I'm also not saying Holland won't be able to do **** on the feet, he's got tremendous power and WB can be caught (not just against Pettis, but also by guys like Burns and Luque when he was circling away and his back was against the cage) but Holland doesn't throw a bunch of hooks (both in the pocket nor from a distance, mostly does it to setup a right hand or an uppercut) like those guys do, so circling side to side for WB isn't gonna be as troubling, the troubling part will circling in a straight line. 

Edit: Btw why doesn't Tapology have RDA vs Barberena up yet? Ik that Marcel hasn't announced it yet which is also odd

* Edited at 10.05.2022, 4:33 PM ET *

Unconfirmed rumor. I don’t think the contract has been signed yet. I saw marcel said he was waiting for confirmation from a source he trusts 

Kevin Holland has the height and reach of a heavyweight, 6 foot 3 with a 81 inch reach, He's only an inch shorter and 2 inch less of reach then Gane and Francis, Holland also has more reach then Stipe, Holland range for a welterweight is insane. I'm certain Wonderboy never fought someone as long as Holland, Because they're no one at welterweight as long as Holland

yeah pretty much man, apart from Neil Magny who has as shorter reach than Holland anyways. I doubt WB's ever dealt someone with the length of Holland in the UFC octagon, so imo he'll probably need a bit of time to adjust to it

So what papers Holland exactly signed there? How many fights he'll have more?

Longest guys he's fought at an elite level are probably Matt Brown and Rory MacDonald who are 6ft at 76in reach. Wonderman did fight some dude called Marques Worrell in like his 3rd or 4th fight and that guy is 6ft 5, but I can't find anything on his reach.


So I honestly think Wonderman might start grappling if he begins getting pieced up on the feet. Dude has been training with Weidman for years so I think he can at least slow Holland down and maybe clear his head.

Thompson vs. Holland
Stephen Thompson, DEC
hard to see someone beating wonderboy on the feet even if hes 39

Jauregui vs. Nunes
Istela Nunes, DEC
close fight

Rafael Dos Anjos v Bryan Barberena added

Thanks 

Le combat Tai Tuivasa VS Serguei Pavlovitch sera programmé sur cette carte 

Jesus that's way too quick of a turn around for tuivasa. Props to him tho he gets back in there quicker than ***** ass yair, Emmet, gaethje, Colby, mazvidal & more 

* Edited at 10.11.2022, 11:57 AM ET *

Thompson vs. Holland
Stephen Thompson, DEC
Pulling for Wonderboy, he’s got the standup skill to win this fight but I could Holland’s length and power being a problem for him

Tuivasa vs. Pavlovich
Tai Tuivasa, TKO, R2
Hoping Tai gets another highlight reel KO but Pavolvich is no joke

dos Anjos vs. Barberena
Rafael dos Anjos, DEC
RDA is near the end of his career but he’s gonna take down Barberena at will and win most of the striking exchanges

Johnson vs. Diakiese
Marc Diakiese, DEC
I initially had Johnson here but I think Diakiese has stepped up his game as of late. I think he will mix in the wrestling and striking for a UD win

Tuivasa vs Pavlovich should be main event here, much more interesting fight.