UFC lightweights Alexander Hernandez and Kurt Holobaugh met at UFC Vegas 104 on Saturday night both having something to prove at 155 pounds.
Hernandez (15-8) hopes to get back on the right path having gone 2-3 in his last 5 outings. Most recently he scored a tough split-decision victory over Austin Hubbard at UFC 307 last October.
Holobaugh (21-8) continues his second run in the promotion coming off a decision victory over Kaynan Kruschewsky last July. The 38-year-old said at media day that he felt he still had to prove he belonged on the roster.
Round 1 Holobaugh took the center trying to put pressure on Hernandez to kick the fight off. Hernandez wasn’t one to accept it as he continued to land and move smoothly out of danger and then landing some nasty leg kicks.
Hernandez was focused on countering, and using his 1-2 combos on the attacking Holobaugh. Hernandez clearly had the speed advantage with Holobaugh trying to get his timing down.
Hernandez began to force some of the action in the second half of the round which forced Holobaugh to retreat and reset positions. A right hook dropped Hernandez for a moment, but the younger lightweight was more of an stumble due to being off-balance.
Hernandez scored a takedown near the end of the round, but got caught up in a guillotine attempt by Holobaugh. Holobaugh ran out of time to finish it.
Round 2 Holobaugh may have felt that he was behind because he came out with a lot more energy in the second round taking the action to Hernandez.
If either man thought this was going to be clean they both realized it wasn’t going to happen and accepted it was going to be ugly. Holobaugh put a pressure and pace on Hernandez that forced the younger fighter to have to fight his way back into the round.
Hernandez scored another takedown with just under 2 minutes left in the round. Hernandez spent the rest of the round looking to score damage from top position.
Round 3 Hernandez came out and got the takedown right away. If it’s not broke don’t fix it and he clearly wanted to keep Holobaugh on the canvas the rest of the fight. Hernandez continued to look for a submission, but Holobaugh was not giving him anything easy.
Holobaugh was able to get to his feet with just two minutes left in the fight and he brought hell with him. Hernandez was having none of it and he took the veteran down again with a blast double leg.
Holobaugh tried a late kimura submission, but it was not to be as Hernandez defended it and both men threw what they could until time ran out.
Official Result: Alexander Hernandez def. Kurt Holobaugh via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28×2)
