UFC Fight Night 193 will feature a middleweight co-main event between Kevin Holland and Kyle Doukas. Although competing in the UFC since 2018, Kevin Holland made history in 2020, capturing the public's attention by winning five times in a calendar year. This is the highest in the modern era of MMA. On the way to 2020, Holland ousted the legendary Jacaré Souza and held the momentum of fellow rising stars, Darren Stewart and Joaquin Buckley. However, their 2021 so far has not lived up to last year's expectations, going 0-2 against better competition. After losing only to the top title contenders, a win on Saturday is a big step for Holland to return to the top.
For Kyle Doukas, a win on Saturday would set in motion a UFC career that hasn't lived up to his high expectations so far. The name Doukas, stemming from a family of fighters, recently made headlines when Kyle's older brother Chris Doukas scored an impressive KO victory at UFC 266. Like his brother Kyle, Doukas garnered a lot of publicity when he entered the UFC in 2020. A 9-0 record. Although since then, he has flipped between wins and losses, each time taking tough decisions, Doukas has yet to perform the deadly submission game that brought him to the UFC in the first place. On Saturday, he would finally like to copy the success he enjoyed outside the UFC.
Holland vs. Daukaus betting odds
Kevin Holland will enter the substantial favorite over Daukaus. A down wager of $100 on the underdog would bring a return of $140 if he claims the upset.
Holland: -170
Daukaus: +140
Holland vs. Daukaus breakdown
Kevin Holland's strengths and weaknesses are known for the most part. He has great power in his hands, is dynamic and unconventional, but has long been defeated mainly in the grappling department.
Kevin Holland is a loose, confident striker who stands tall and uses his long arms to box in while blending in more difficult traditional martial arts techniques. Often he takes his opponent's rest to the head and body with deceptively fast front leg kicks, and what makes him so dangerous is he can generate KO power in his hands from very awkward angles. In situations where his opponents must be safe from fundamental boxing techniques, Holland is able to produce punches such as awkward hammerfists and slaps with the power of more fundamental sounding techniques.
Furthermore, he can generate this power forward or backward, and even from his back as was evident last year against Jakre Souza. However, when he is unable to find success with a few power shots from his bag, this situation is also largely where he loses. Against the best wrestlers, the clock is not Holland's friend. He's a black belt in jiu jitsu, but his strength is for the most part in his defense, he has a tough guard to pass, and he wields his upper body, so submission is pretty thorough. When he finds his legs stuck, this is where he loses steam, as it is seemingly second nature to avoid the hip and make room with his lower body. While he showed improvement doing so in his previous fight, the adjustments are still new for Holland and he was unable to stick to them for the entire fight.
Kyle Doukas is by far the less comfortable striker and more reliable grappler. 8 of his 10 wins have come via submission, but to be more specific, Doukas specializes in front chokes. He has a long reach that allows him to snap on the guillotine and his characteristic brabo chokes very fast. His reach is also used to work long hours at the boxing range and take out his opponent's wrestling, however, his reach will be at a disadvantage against Holland in this match-up.
Though what he has in striking is no secret that it helps Doukas fight on the ground compared to Holland. Therefore, Doukas will have the added benefit of being more lenient with his kicks without fear Holland is coping with a trip or takedown. If Doukas can finish a top, he's great at filling up the lower body and taking off heavy ground and pounds, a strategy that plays well against Holland's primary weakness.
Holland vs. Daukaus prediction
While Doukas should have the advantage if the fight turns out to be on the mat, there is more of a big difference between him and Holland's previous opponents in wrestling. Doukas often rely on extracting battling exchanges through their opponent's initiation and capitalization with their submission game. There isn't much reason for Holland to start these as they should come with a substantial striking advantage. Also, as Holland's jiu jitsu game is largely defensive, if anything holds up it should be his submission defense, so I would see Holland able to do more damage and reduce Doukas' work on the ground Am.