The UFC 302 fight card showcased some thrilling battles, none more so than the fierce clash between UFC veteran Kevin Holland and Polish fighter Michal Oleksiejczuk. Despite facing two consecutive defeats, Holland was determined to triumph in this match.
The two came with cautious movements and heavy exchanges, but Holland remained on his feet while Oleksiejczuk tested his defenses. The Polish fighter managed to land a savage blow that rocked Holland to the floor, and he went in for the kill, but his rival got a hold of it and wrestled him into an armbar position from his back. He kept his grip tight, and Oleksiejczuk tried to slip through, but he couldn’t break the lock. He refused to tap out even after an obvious dislocation, but Referee Herb Dean intervened and stopped them fighting. Oleksiejczuk was initially upset with the referee’s decision, even though his arm was rendered non-functional, but he soon accepted the decision.
Following the intense battle, Holland stepped out of the cage to exchange a brief handshake and word with former president Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White. In a post-fight interview, he shared the respectful conversation he had with the former president.
“ I just apologized because the first time,” Holland said. “I hopped out of the cage when he was there I didn’t speak to him. No disrespect to anybody ever, the person who signs my checks is usually the first person I talk to and Dana and Hunter sign my checks.”
Holland also discussed the fight in an interview with reporters, blaming the referee for allowing it to go on for that long.
“Herb Dean’s fault,” He joked. “I asked him to stop it a little earlier, but Herb Dean was like. ‘You’ve got to go a little bit longer.’ Alright, cool, cool.
“When I first put him in the armbar, I heard the pop. After that, it wasn’t popping again, and I thought, I’m going to have to take a full-blown break. So I kept trying to do a little chihuahua scoot, get myself underneath there,. And then hit a good pull after that. But the guy is tough as nails. He hit me with a good shot. Tough guy. I had a feeling he’d be like–I fought John Philips for my first UFC win, and I had a feeling he would be like John Philips but better.
“I told my coaches that if he hits me with a good shot, this fight will go to the ground. He hit me with a good shot, and the fight got to the ground. Good job.”
