Stephen Thompson marked his return to action after a year-long hiatus against Kevin Holland in the headlining bout of UFC Orlando.
UFC Orlando: Stephen Thompson vs. Kevin Holland
Round 1
Holland opens with a leg kick and another one. Holland rushes in and Thompson gets on the back foot. Thompson with a straight left to a jumping Holland. Holland grapples off the fence. Holland with a low kick. Thompson with a low kick. Fast left hand counter by Thompson. Holland gets close and lands some light strikes. Big left hand for Thompson. Low outside kick by Thompson. Holland taps with an oblique kick. Low kick from Holland. Thompson pushes him away with a side kick. Thompson lands a left and Holland connects with a big knee. Another sharp left from Wonderboy. Holland jumps in and connects a huge right. Wonderboy is wobbled, he covers up and moves away. Low kick from Thompson. Body shot by Holland followed by one up top. Holland gets him in the clinch and lands huge elbows. Nice counter left from Holland. Good entry by Thompson to land a couple lefts. Big big right hook by Thompson that snapped Holland’s head. Nice knee from Holland. Low kick by Holland.
Round 2
Thompson with a side kick. Big kick from Thompson goes up to Holland’s head to hit the guard.Thompson blitzes in and gets the clinch. He moves out and dodges strikes from Holland. Heavy low kick from Wonderboy. Nice shot from Holland. Short right hook by Holland. Thompson enters in with a 1-2. Thompson rushes in with a flurry and Holland counters with a knee. Body kick from Holland and Thompson counters with a left. Good left from Holland. Big left from Thompson gets through. Holland grapples and lets Thompson get up immediately. Massive left from Wonderboy echoes through the arena. Side kick by Wonderboy and a straight left. Big right from Holland and an elbow to follow up. Thompson fires right back with punches. Big left hand and combo from Thompson hurt Holland. Holland lands a big right. Nice right from Holland.
Round 3
Thompson with a low kick. Holland telling him to slow down. Holland continues chopping at Thompson’s legs. Jumping switch kick from Wonderboy grazes Holland’s head. Thompson lands two nice left hands. Holland steps in and gets Wonderboy down before getting up. Massive calf kick from Holland. Nice combination from Thompson. Side kick from Wonderboy. Thompson enters with a light right hook and exits. Side kick to the chin of Holland. Thompson with a straight left. Holland gets an elbow through. They get in the clinch and exchange knees. Thompson gets out. Good 1-2 combo from Thompson. Thompson unloads a flurry of punches and Holland moves laterally. Thompson gets a left in and a spinning back kick. Body shot from Thompson. Nice right hook by Thompson.
Holland is looking at his right hand like something may have gone wrong.
Round 4
Thompson with a hard kick to the head. Excellent footwork and movement by Thompson. They get in the clinch and get out. Big left from Thompson as Holland enters in. Holland gets him off the fence. Big liver kick by Thompson hurt Holland. Thompson whips in another kick to the liver and Holland shoots in. They grapple and Holland claims groin shot. Time out. Spinning back kick by Holland lands on Holland’s head. Thompson with a left and a right hook. Big spinning back kick and a head kick and another head kick from Thompson. Jab from Thompson. Side kick from Thompson. Holland with low kick. Thompson with a flurry of punches and a big kick to the body. Huge right hook by Thompson. Thompson floors Holland and lays down the ground and pound before letting him up.
Holland’s corner has chosen to stop the fight because of the right hand injury.
Round 5
Official Result: Stephen Thompson defeats Kevin Holland via TKO (R4, 5:00).
Check out the highlights below:
HOLLAND ROCKED WONDERBOY 👊 #UFCOrlando pic.twitter.com/DPfuwpLhVp
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 4, 2022
THIS FIGHT 😱 #UFCOrlando pic.twitter.com/Y0krgI6kA9
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 4, 2022
THE SOUND OF THIS KICK 🔊 #UFCOrlando pic.twitter.com/sLrNgAoUO4
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 4, 2022
BIG shots landed by both men in Round 1! 💥 #UFCOrlando pic.twitter.com/o5xAsGiMsP
— UFC (@ufc) December 4, 2022
The biggest shot of Round 1 belonged to Kevin Holland 👊 #UFCOrlando pic.twitter.com/xD9LLIIqEZ
— UFC (@ufc) December 4, 2022
KEVIN HOLLAND IS EATING EVERYTHING 🤯 #UFCOrlando pic.twitter.com/2iqN1FCht6
— UFC (@ufc) December 4, 2022
After four INCREDIBLE rounds this one comes to an end!@WonderboyMMA leaves #UFCOrlando with a TKO victory after Kevin Holland's corner calls for a stop due to a hand injury pic.twitter.com/QheKmWI5EK
— UFC (@ufc) December 4, 2022
