5 fighters in desperate need of a win at UFC 272
This weekend sees UFC 272 take place in Las Vegas. As always, with a major pay-per-view event like this, the stakes are high for a number of fighters.
The main event brought the 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐓 to media day 🎤🔥
[ #UFC272 | Saturday | Live on ESPN+ PPV: ufc.ac/3K2nVJI ] https://t.co/CJg2Unj0mL
For a number of reasons, more than one fighter will be competing at UFC 272 in a fight that they simply cannot afford to lose.
With this kind of pressure, can these fighters rise to the occasion in their must-win bouts, or will they falter under the spotlight?
With that in mind, here are five fighters who desperately need to win at UFC 272.
#5. Kevin Holland – UFC welterweight contender
It doesn’t seem all that long ago that Kevin Holland was amongst the hottest fighters in the entire UFC. ‘The Trailblazer’ enjoyed a blockbuster 2020. After winning five fights in a row, he looked set to break out as a genuine star in 2021.
However, to say things went wildly wrong for him would be a massive understatement. Despite defeating famed grappler Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza from the bottom, Holland’s lack of defensive wrestling was badly exposed in his losses to Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori.
Those two losses knocked him out of contention at 185lbs. When he attempted to rebound by defeating prospect Kyle Daukaus, he found himself knocked out badly in the first round.
SCENES. 😳
A clash of heads dramatically changes the flow of this one in the opening round! #UFCVegas38 https://t.co/PSGZs4Rpz3
The result of that bout ended up being overturned when it became clear that Holland had been stunned by an accidental headbutt. However, it still left him winless for the year and marked the first time he’d been knocked out.
This weekend sees ‘The Trailblazer’ return. Interestingly, he is dropping to 170lbs for the first time since 2017 to take on Alex Oliveira.
On paper, at least, Oliveira – a flashy offensive fighter who isn’t likely to look to blanket Holland – should be a good opponent for the former 185lber. However, question marks still hang over how he’ll make 170lbs and his mindset following his winless run.
Win here, and Holland will signal his intentions to become a welterweight contender. If he loses, his future in the promotion could be at stake, making this weekend a must-win situation.