UFC Fight Night 262: Kevin Holland vs Mike Malott Preview & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Mike Malott looks to hand Kevin Holland his second straight loss in front of an adoring home crowd.
Kevin Holland vs Mike Malott facts
What time are Kevin Holland and Mike Malott expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night 262: De Ridder vs Allen? Rogers Arena, Vancouver, Canada
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 262: De Ridder vs Allen? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 262
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night 262: De Ridder vs Allen on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 262: De Ridder vs Allen? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night 262: De Ridder vs Allen main card
Reinier de Ridder vs Brendan Allen (Middleweight)
Kevin Holland vs Mike Malott (Welterweight)
Marlon Vera vs Aiemann Zahabi (Bantamweight)
Manon Fiorot vs Jasmine Jasudavicius (Women’s Flyweight)
Cody Gibson vs Aori Qileng (Bantamweight)
Kyle Nelson vs Matt Frevola (Lightweight)
UFC Fight Night 262: De Ridder vs Allen prelims
Charles Jourdain vs Davey Grant (Bantamweight)
Bruno Gustavo da Silva vs Park Hyun-sung (Flyweight)
Danny Barlow vs Djorden Ribeiro dos Santos (Middleweight)
Kyle Prepolec vs Drew Dober (Lightweight)
Stephanie Luciano vs Ravena Oliveira (Women’s Strawweight)
Azamat Bekoev vs Yousri Belgaroui (Middleweight)
Melissa Croden vs Tainara Lisboa (Women’s Bantamweight)
Kevin Holland: Is this the beginning of the end for the "Trailblazer?"
One of the promotion’s most prominent faces courtesy of his ridiculous schedule, in-fight trash talk, and finish-heavy fight style, Kevin Holland (28-14) remains one of the more frustrating fighters in MMA history. At his best, the rangy “Trailblazer” looks like a potential champion, with a nasty submission game to complement legitimate knockout power on the feet. Unfortunately, his refusal to learn how to wrestle and propensity for flitting between welterweight and middleweight means that he’s never managed to maintain consistent momentum at either weight class. He enters this match up off the back of a decision defeat to Daniel Rodriguez at UFC 318.
Mike Malott: "Proper" aims to secure the biggest win of his career
Entering the co-main event as the hometown favorite, Mike Mallott (12-2-1) is coming off the biggest win of his career, demolishing Charles Radtke with a second round KO in their grudge match at UFC 315. A graduate of DWCS, “Proper” is currently 5-1 in the promotion with four stoppages. Unfortunately, he is arguably best known for his sole defeat, gassing out and losing by late comeback TKO to Neil Magny as a huge favorite in Canada. The 33 year old Mallott has excellent grappling and heavy hands to back it up.
Kevin Holland vs Mike Malott prediction
Holland’s career has followed a rough trajectory since he joined the promotion. He goes on an impressive win streak laden with finishes, before getting decisively thrashed by the upper echelon of the division, to the point that it’s legitimately a pleasant surprise when he then rebounds and starts the cycle anew.
However, the Daniel Rodriguez loss may have marked the point where the fan favorite is no longer able to rebound and score impressive victories. “D-Rod” is always a tough out, but he’s far from the elite of the division and he absolutely battered Holland. “Trailblazer” took the fight way too quickly after beating Vicente Luque and absorbed a horrific amount of damage for his troubles.
As such, while there’s a solid argument to be made that the Holland of old would have made mince-meat out of him, the well-rounded Mallott looks to be the safer pick here at this point in the game. He’s a legitimate threat on the feet and the mat; if Holland’s durability is starting to wane, Mallott has the power to put his lights out. He’s also got a realistic path to victory by wearing on Holland with his wrestling to secure a late submission.
In many senses, it would be the most Kevin Holland thing of all time for him to score the highlight reel stoppage out of nowhere here. However, it would be unwise to count on it.
Prediction: Mike Malott to win
