UFC middleweight Kevin Holland stayed true to his moniker ‘Big Mouth’ as his fight went along at UFC Fight Night. Holland was largely dominated on the ground by Brunson in the first-round and ‘The Trailblazer’ took notice of the damage. He tried to solve it in between rounds in a hilarious manner as cameras captured him asking Khabib Nurmagomedov for advice about managing Brunson’s high-octane takedowns.

The ‘2020 Fighter of the Year’ was in for a rude awakening as his first UFC main event wasn’t going exactly to plan. Derek Brunson was getting the better of the striking exchanges and was prioritizing a ground game to nullify Holland. While Brunson’s damage on the ground wasn’t significant, it was sufficient to warrant continued control time.

Derek Brunson was 4/8 on his takedowns heading into the fifth round, and Kevin Holland had no answer for his onslaught. Moreover, he was able to divert Holland’s dangerous attacks from the guard as he’s displayed in earlier fights. Derek Brunson was running out the clock in a veteran clinic that has announced him as a contender.

UFC Fight Night: Derek Brunson vs Kevin Holland

‘Big Mouth’ Holland’s attempt to seek professional advice on grappling from Khabib in the final round didn’t hold water. ‘The Eagle’ sat alongside Dana White and couldn’t help Holland subvert Brunson’s pressure right from the get-go. As the fight played along, it was becoming increasingly clear that things were falling apart.

Khabib Nurmagomedov has maintained a stoic pressure throughout his career and he’s been uber-successful in the cage. When it comes to ground control, there’s no one more skilled than the Dagestani mauler. Nurmagomedov’s passion for the ground game certainly spilled over as Kevin Holland landed a singular takedown in the final round.

Despite that, Derek Brunson swept the scorecards with a unanimous decision win and emerged as a threat even as a veteran middleweight fighter. He proved that he’s still very much an elite name who can make a run at gold. Chiefly, the chips will probably fall favorably for Derek Brunson going forward and he’s got a big fight coming up next.

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