UFC Fight Night Brunson vs Holland comes one week before the big UFC 260, and it should be a good intro for the rematch between Miocic and Ngannou. Brunson, a veteran, wants to receive a chance to end his career with a title shot, while on the other side, the rising star, Holland, demolishes his way up to the top of the middleweight division.
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Derek Brunson (21-7) +145
The 37-year old veteran won the previous three fights. The first two against Elias Theodorou and Ian Heinisch were after unanimous decisions, while the latest vs. Edmen Shahbazyan saw him knocking out the rival.
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Brunson has two strengths – ferocious punches and wrestling. His hits are pretty hard, and 12 of his 21 wins came via KO. Also, this guy knows how to wrestle, as he used to be a Division II All-American before starting his pro MMA career.
However, his weak sides are tactics and fragile chin. All the big dogs in the division have defeated Burnson without any trouble, mostly by a KO. He often overexposes himself and gets hit pretty badly, causing him to be easy prey for more skilled fighters.
Kevin Holland (21-5) -170
Many are wondering is now the right time for Kevin Holland to finally receive the respect he deserves. This guy has been tremendous in the past 12 months and is on the pace to set the new UFC record for the number of wins during that period.
He currently has five, against Anthony Hernandez, Joaquin Buckley, Darren Stewart, Charlie Ontiveros, and the latest against Jacare Souza, which was a masterful KO while laying with his back on the ground.
Holland is a very fast and energetic fighter who knows how to handle himself in various situations. The TrailBlazer is solid in all the areas inside the octagon, but what stands out is his ability to sense the rival’s struggles and exploit them in the best possible way.
Prediction
Holland is an obvious favorite for us, and we are a bit surprised to see even this high odds on his victory. Brunson is a veteran, but he never won against guys who are more than a plain average in the division. And to be perfectly straight with you, Holland is definitely among the top guys in the middleweight at the moment.
His win shouldn’t be questioned here, and in order to increase the profits, betting that he defeats Brunson via stoppage would be an excellent choice.
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-->Pick: Holland wins
