Kevin Holland wasted no time at UFC on ESPN 8, knocking down and finishing Anthony Hernandez in under 40 seconds.
After seeing a three-fight win streak snapped by Brendan Allen back in October, Kevin Holland was looking to get back in winner’s circle in Jacksonville, Florida, at UFC on ESPN 8. His opponent, Anthony Hernandez, was a fellow Contender Series veteran coming off a win over South Korea’s Jun Yong Park.
Holland’s first foray to the Octagon following the Contender Series was anything but easy. On two weeks’ notice, Holland stepped up to fight former light heavyweight title contender Thiago Santos at UFC 227.
Holland hit Hernandez with an overhand right right away and followed up with a combination. Hernandez turned things around with a few jabs to back Holland up. Holland pushed back, closing the distance and getting to the other side of the cage. Hernandez was cracked with a huge elbow in the clinch followed by a knee to the body. Hernandez went down and turtled, not attempting to defend himself, forcing the referee to stop the fight.
HE ONLY NEEDED SECONDS! 😱
👏 Take a bow, @Trailblaze2top!
Tune in now ➡️ LIVE on @ESPN. #UFCFL pic.twitter.com/Jpw2V3PS1M
— UFC (@ufc) May 17, 2020
Holland had an entertaining post-fight interview, saying that since he noticed Daniel Cormier was not broadcasting tonight’s fights, he’d have to get the job done quickly since he wouldn’t hear Cormier’s wrestling tips in the middle of the fight.
He also had a specific opponent in mind, calling out Mickey Gall. It’s worth noting that Holland is a middleweight and Gall is a welterweight.
Kevin Holland def. Anthony Hernandez by TKO (Punches) in Round 1 (0:39)
