Fight Preview
The co-main event of UFC Noche is a Welterweight contest between Jack Della Maddalena and Kevin Holland, the victor of which will face a top-10 opponent in the division.
While Jack has won 15 straight bouts, Holland is 4-1 in his last five at 170 pounds, including 2-0 in the last two. Both fighters are extremely skilled and original strikers who can finish the bout at any time, making this a strong candidate for Fight of the Night.
Kevin Holland is an accomplished long-range striker who has developed his grappling skills throughout his UFC career. He favors standing battles, where he can employ a wide variety of kicks in addition to his left jab and hook from a more traditional stance. Recently, he stopped Michael Chiesa in the first round by defending a takedown with a right uppercut from distance and from the clinch, demonstrating the improvements he’s made in his grappling defense since his bout with Chimaev.
Holland’s striking is entertaining to watch for reasons apart from the cageside antics he provides. Given his long reach of 81 inches, it’s hardly surprising that his preferred weapon is the left jab. This jab serves as a setup for his left hook, in which he pretends to come straight down the center with his elbow chambered before spinning it into a slapping hook that skirts the guard.
Jack’s striking is impressive from both the orthodox and southpaw positions, a feat rarely seen even among the top switch stance fighters in the UFC. He uses the jab effectively from either stance, and his combinations frequently involve a stance change during his throws. Many of his knockouts come from strikes that land at strange angles or without him loading up, and yet he is usually able to perfectly target the chin and behind the ear to find the finishing blow, demonstrating the strength he carries in his hands.
To increase the force of his blows, he loads up from the hip and throws with increasing aggression until he gets hit. In these exchanges, Basil Hafez was able to counter Jack efficiently, making his strikes look slow and sluggish. When his hands are high, he can land touching shots until defensive holes open up for his bigger shots, which greatly increases his chances of success.
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Kevin Holland vs Jack Della Maddalena Fight Information
- Date: 09/16/2023
- Time: 11:25 PM ET
- Location: T-Mobile Arena.
- How to Watch Holland vs Maddalena: ESPN+
- Live Stream: BT Sport.com
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