UFC 316 recap: Kevin Holland outclasses Vicente Luque, scores clean D'Arce submission victory
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Kevin Holland returned to the spotlight at UFC 316 with a dominant submission win over Vicente Luque , reminding fans why he remains one of the UFC's most unpredictable and dangerous finishers. Fighting in the Prudential Center on June 7, Holland submitted Luque in the second round via D'arce choke — a technique he's become known for.Known for his unorthodox style, constant trash talk, and ability to compete across multiple weight classes, Holland has long been a fan favorite.After bouncing between middleweight and welterweight over the past few years, the 31-year-old 'Trailblazer' reaffirmed his place in the 170-pound division with a sharp, confident win in Newark.From the opening bell, both fighters exchanged aggressive strikes. Luque initiated the action with a front kick, while Holland responded with heavy elbows, momentarily staggering the Brazilian late in the first round. Despite the onslaught, Luque remained composed as Holland prowled, confident and rhythmic.The finish came early in the second round. Holland caught a kick from Luque and executed a takedown. Almost instantly, he locked in a tight D'arce choke.Luque struggled to escape but ultimately tapped out at 1:03 of the round. It marked the first submission loss of Luque's UFC career.Holland spoke about his strategy post-fight: 'He wanted a war, so I gave him a war… I'm really, really good at doing a D'arce choke. My arms are just viciously long.' His confidence and sharp timing underlined his experience and technique.Holland's victory snapped a middling run at welterweight. He had returned to 170 lbs earlier in March, securing a unanimous decision over Gunnar Nelson and earning a Performance of the Night bonus.Vicente Luque entered the bout aiming to rebound. He came off a quick submission win at UFC 310 and is tied for the second-most D'arce/brabo choke submission wins in the division's history.His aggressive style kept Holland honest, but the Brazilian became the first welterweight to fall via D'arce choke.UFC 316 itself delivered a strong card full of action. The welterweight match kicked off the PPV main portion, followed by a bantamweight rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley, and a women's title bout featuring Julianna Peña and Kayla Harrison.Other notable bouts included Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer and Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix, rounding out a packed night of MMA.
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