UFC Vegas 22: Derek Brunson vs. Kevin Holland Picks and Predictions

Derek Brunson and Kevin Holland face off in a middleweight bout for the main event of UFC Vegas 22 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Derek Brunson comes into this game with a 21-7 record overall and he has won three fights in a row. Brunson’s last fight came against Edmen Shahbazyan in August of 2020 and it was early in the 3rd round he was able to finish the fight by knockout. The two previous wins by Brunson had come by decision, so he also knows how to grind out a fight. Brunson is averaging 3.77 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 2.95 significant strikes per minute. Bronson likes to get the fight to the ground and he is currently averaging 3.02 successful takedowns every 15 minutes but he is only successful on 31 percent of his attempts. Brunson stops 100 percent of his opponents takedown attempts and in this fight that could end up being key. 

On the other side of this matchup is Kevin Holland who sits with a 21-5 record overall and he has won four fights in a row. Holland’s last fight against Jacare Souza and in December of 2020 and it was early in the first round he was able to win the fight by knockout. Holland on the season is averaging 4.74 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 2.77 significant strikes per minute. Holland is averaging 1.19 successful takedowns every 15 minutes and he is successful on 42 percent of the attempts. Holland also stops 52 percent of his opponents' takedown attempts and in this one if he wants to come away with a victory, he is going to need to keep the fight on the feet.