MMA Preview – Kevin Holland vs Alex Oliveira at UFC 272
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KEVIN HOLLAND VS ALEX OLIVEIRA FACTS
When is UFC 272? Sunday 6th March, 2022 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 272? T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 272? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 272
What channel is UFC 272 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 272? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
KEVIN HOLLAND VS ALEX OLIVEIRA LOWDOWN
Kevin Holland (21-7(1)) takes the plunge back down to welterweight. After tying the record for the most UFC wins in a calendar year (2020) with five, he crashed back down to earth the following year losing dominant unanimous decisions to Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori before getting submitted by Kyle Daukaus but only after a clash of heads which resulted in a ‘no contest’.
Alex Oliveira (22-11-1(2)) is also without a win in his last three which has seen him slump to 2-6 in his last eight. He has fought weapons throughout his 21-fight UFC career, but consistency has always been his downfall. He is coming off submission losses to Shavkat Rakhmonov (2020) and Randy Brown (2021) before a decision loss to Niko Price (2021).
KEVIN HOLLAND VS ALEX OLIVEIRA PREDICTION
Welcoming Holland down from middleweight while on a three-fight skid is not ideal and Oliveira has to hope the weight cut depletes Holland. His striking was a threat to anyone up at 185 lbs and he will have a significant five-inch reach and four-inch height advantage.
Oliveira is very well-rounded, but if he has any sense, he has to take a leaf out of Brunson and Vettori’s book and wrestle him for three rounds. He does not have the skill, size or power of those two, but that is his only real chance of winning this. Even if he gets the fight to the floor, Holland will be dangerous off his back with submission attempts and even strikes (just ask Jacare Souza).
Oliveira has a solid chin and has only been knocked out once in his career but the longer this stays on the feet, the more likely it will be that Holland finds the knockout. If Oliveira decides to wrestle for three rounds, he has a chance, but he is too erratic to stick to a boring game plan and we are backing Holland to capitalize on any space and even hand the Brazilian his second knockout loss.
Prediction: Holland via KO/TKO - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Value Bet: Oliveira via Submission
