Derek Brunson Wants Paulo Costa, Kevin Holland Plans Welterweight Move, More News | UFC Vegas 22 Fallout Roundup
Kevin Holland’s win streak came to an end at UFC Vegas 22 at the hands of Derek Brunson — all this and more in your UFC Vegas 22 fallout round-up.
Kevin Holland Plans Move To Welterweight
Holland was dominated on the way to a decision from Derek Brunson (49-45, 49-46, 49-46). At the post-fight press conference, he mentioned looking for a nutritionist to help him move down to the welterweight division, citing the size of his fellow middleweights as his biggest issue.
Holland says he’d like to get with a nutritionist and try 170, which is kind of interesting.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) March 21, 2021
Derek Brunson Wants To Fight Paulo Costa, Looks Toward What’s Next
This is Derek Brunson’s second fight in a row where he played spoiler to a rising star. Brunson gave the young star Edmen Shahbazyan his first professional defeat in his last fight, and now has ended Kevin Holland’s five-fight win streak. Brunson spoke afterwards about what’s next for him in 2021.
Brunson: You’re doing a lot of talking, but you’re not doing much to get up. I didn’t want to talk to him.
Also calls out Paulo Costa, which makes sense to me. Sisqo Brunson has earned a Top 5 opponent.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) March 21, 2021
“I just want to have a big year, I want to have big fights.”@DerekBrunson talks about defeating Kevin Holland at #UFCVegas22 and why he’s excited about what’s next for him 2021 —
All Results :
— UFC News (@UFCNews) March 21, 2021
Derek Brunson not impressed with Kevin Holland’s gameplan
Derek Brunson thinks Kevin Holland needs to do a little less talking and drill a little more takedown defense.
“Come on, man: You’ve got to do better than that,” Brunson said at Saturday’s presser (h/t MMA Junkie). “That was pretty stupid. Work to get up out of positions. You’re talking the whole time. I was going to talk back to him during the fight, but I’m like, ‘This guy’s stupid. He’s stupid. He’s just laying here talking and not improving position, so I’ll just let him.’ I didn’t want to want to break his rhythm. Just let him keep doing his thing.
“I think he’ll learn from this. He’s got to be a little bit more focused on the fight. He was in shape, I was in shape. He wanted to entertain between rounds, but this is the fight game. It’s good to have fun, but you should probably be a little bit more focused on the fight because I was looking for my moments to really put some good punches on him and get him out there.”
Brunson also brushed off UFC President Dana White’s disappointment with the fight.
“He just couldn’t stop the takedown,” Brunson told reporters at Saturday’s post-fight presser. “It’s funny he kept giving me his hips, you know? He’s the kind of guy who is very explosive to like run in, but he’s long so he can get away with it at times. He kept presenting his hips and he was there for the taking down. Dana White’s one of those guys. He’ll be upset with you. I’ll come out the next fight and knock a guy out and he’ll be happy again. So, it’s all good.”
Brunson: You’re doing a lot of talking, but you’re not doing much to get up. I didn’t want to talk to him.
Also calls out Paulo Costa, which makes sense to me. Sisqo Brunson has earned a Top 5 opponent.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) March 21, 2021
After Defeat, Kevin Holland Promises To Never Stop Talking
Despite losing four rounds according to the judges at UFC Vegas 22, Holland remained talkative to his opponent Derek Brunson. After losing, Holland has received some flak about being too talkative, but Holland addressed everyone in a post-fight video. Rest assured, the in-cage talking is here to stay.
“Never gonna stop talking. If you guys don’t f—ing like it, deuces.”
Kevin Holland doubled down after #UFCVegas22 (via @Trailblaze2top) pic.twitter.com/aPME8nPZ8s
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 21, 2021
Tai Tuivasa’s Son Reacts To His Father’s Knockout Win
49 seconds is all it took for Tai Tuivasa to finish Harry Hunsucker. Though quick, the fight had both guys landing effectively until Tuivasa closed the show. In the video below, Tuivasa’s son ecstatically reacts to the overhand right of his father.
Tai Tuivasa’s son reacting to his Dad getting a first round KO is the wholesome content you need to see tonight — pic.twitter.com/WkHue2iBlX
— MMA Eejit —- (@MMAEejit) March 21, 2021
Khabib Nurmagomedov Coaches Kevin Holland Between Rounds
Khabib Nurmagomedov, who seemed to be streaming the fights via Instagram live, gave some words of advice to Kevin Holland between rounds. Holland called out for help from the retired wrestling great, and Nurmagomedov complied. “Next time I will teach you.”
Khabib out here coaching Kevin Holland on his IG Live — #UFCVegas22 pic.twitter.com/BcipU975ev
— Kyle (@cfckyle1) March 21, 2021
Dana White thinks Kevin Holland had a mental breakdown
Kevin Holland’s performance was received poorly by UFC head honcho Dana White.
“I think that was a mental breakdown,” White told Yahoo! Sports. “The only other thing I saw like it was [in boxing] when Lennox Lewis fought that guy [Oliver McCall] who kept his hands at his side and was crying. I don’t know what he was doing. I think he might not have been able to handle the pressure and just broke mentally. I haven’t seen anything like that.”
UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totals $116,000 at UFC Vegas 22
Fighters were paid a grand total of $116,000 cumulatively through the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance Pay.
“The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy,” MMA Junkie explains.
Derek Brunson: $20,000
def. Kevin Holland: $5,000Max Griffin: $15,000
def. Song Kenan: $5,000Montserrat Conejo: $3,500
def. Cheyanne Buys: $3,500Adrian Yanez: $3,500
def. Gustavo Lopez: $3,500Tai Tuivasa: $5,000
def. Harry Hunsucker: $3,500Macy Chiasson: $5,000
Marion Reneau: $10,000Grant Dawson: $4,000
def. Leonardo Santos: $5,000Trevin Giles: $5,000
def. Roman Dolidze: $3,500Montel Jackson: $5,000
def. Jesse Strader: $3,500Bruno Silva: $4,000
def. JP Buys: $3,500
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