Kevin Holland secured his second consecutive victory in the UFC welterweight division with a second-round submission of Vicente Luque at UFC 316 on Saturday night. Opening the main card, the matchup between these two welterweight contenders promised fireworks, though drama briefly had fans concerned when Holland cryptically tweeted “well this is f**ked up” hours before the event. As it turned out, the tweet was merely about dropping his phone—nothing that would prevent the showdown from proceeding as planned.
From the opening bell, Holland demonstrated his striking superiority. Early in the first round, Luque attempted to catch a kick, but Holland responded with powerful punches while balancing on one leg. A particularly devastating elbow from Holland crashed into the side of Luque’s head, raising concerns given Luque’s recent history of absorbing damage. However, the Brazilian veteran showed his trademark durability, weathering the storm and returning fire in a competitive first round that slightly favored Holland.
KEVIN JUST WON BY SUB WTFF #UFC316 pic.twitter.com/a4KHjWaJBd
— HelmsMMA (@HelmsMMA) June 8, 2025
The decisive moment came just one minute into the second round. After Luque attempted another kick, Holland expertly dumped him to the mat and swiftly secured a tight anaconda choke. With the submission locked in, Luque had no choice but to tap at the 1:03 mark of round two.
This victory showcases the evolution of Holland’s grappling game, adding a ninth submission win to his professional record.
Holland Breaks Down His Anaconda Technique
During the press conference, Holland explained his approach to the anaconda choke that finished Luque. “I like to do a good job of using my length and I like to do a good job of getting the head down like this,” Holland demonstrated. Unlike others who focus primarily on compressing the arteries, Holland emphasizes pushing the opponent’s head down as far as possible, creating an uncomfortable position particularly for heavier fighters.
The submission opportunity came after Holland capitalized on Luque’s tendency to throw low kicks. “We did a good job of knowing that Luque likes to throw some the low kicks and he likes to hurt people low kicks,” Holland said. “Every time I was grabbing a leg, I was either launching people back or grabbing a kick and then bow, smacking them with uppercuts. So I knew in this fight that if he threw a leg kick and I caught it, I knew that whatever happened after would be vicious.”
“I’ve been working on my submission game extensively,” Holland said after. “People know me for talking and striking, but I’ve always had these skills in my back pocket.”
Holland’s talkative nature was on full display during the bout. When asked what he was saying in the octagon, Holland replied, “Just stay long, stay strong. Got it going on. And then Luque would do something. I say, ‘Good man. Good man, Luque. Good job, Luque. Good.'” He clarified that he was mostly talking to himself rather than his opponent while “having a blast” in there.
This chatty style isn’t just for the night. Holland confirmed he brings the same energy to training sessions, saying, “Nothing like mental toughness to make sure that my guys are ready for whatever is going to be in front of them. So, I always try and make sure I get my guys mentally prepared.”
Following his victory, Holland declared that welterweight (170 pounds) is his home. “I work harder at 170 pounds,” he explained. “I have to put the cardio in to make sure the weight stays down. I have to be disciplined. I have to eat right. I have to do everything right. And it just forces me to be a better athlete.”
When asked about his future plans, Holland expressed readiness to compete as often as the UFC wants him to this year. Despite his win, he noted that he didn’t take much damage beyond “a little big” lip, and after planned trips to Miami and Jamaica.
