At 39 years old, Steven Thompson is still beating younger fighters, as Kevin Holland can testify after going four rounds with the two-time welterweight title contender at UFC Orlando.
Holland held on for as long as he could after dozens of acrobatic kicks to the body and canopy. Eventually, physics intervened and he could no longer continue as his corner was correctly determined at the end of the fourth round.
A hand injury ended Holland, but for Thompson it was another reminder that he is still a hell of a fighter at 170 pounds. His colleagues gave him the appropriate props on Twitter.
Here’s what the fighters had to say about the main card of the UFC Orlando tournament.
Stephen Thompson beat. Kevin Holland
Kevin is damn strong #UFCOrlando
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) December 4, 2022
@WonderboyMMA pic.twitter.com/AA2jCCmNaZ
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) December 4, 2022
And so I fight
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 4, 2022
What a great fight. Wonderboy Martial Arts Clinic Dutch Endurance Clinic
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) December 4, 2022
You rarely see the towel thrown in MMA. To be honest, it was for Kevin’s benefit. crazy respect for Holland for his toughness and his angle. they really care about Kevin’s health #UFCOrlando
— Randy Brown (@TouchNgo_) December 4, 2022
Shout to Holland’s corner. I think they made the right choice. No fighter wants this to happen, but sometimes you need trainers to save you from yourself. There he was seriously injured. What a great performance by both men! Congratulations @WonderboyMMA with a big win! #UFCOrlando
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) December 4, 2022
Yes, Vegas is going to invest in Holland after the takedown is abandoned. #UFCOrlando
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) December 4, 2022
The first shot Thompson made to the forehead knocked him out of the rut, he ended up winning the Crazy Ass Sport fight. It was a damn good fight. Congratulations @WonderboyMMA you definitely have the skills to pay the bills. #UFCFightNight
— Justin Gaethje (@Justin_Gaethje) December 4, 2022
Wonderboy vs Masvidal
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 4, 2022
Rafael dos Anjos def. Brian Barber
Congratulations @RdosAnjosMMA on a dominant win. Great takedowns and ground work in a higher weight class. Best works
— Rafael “Ataman” Fiziev (@RafaelFiziev) December 4, 2022
Come on RDA!! This BJJ is dangerous! #UFCOrlando
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) December 4, 2022
wow beautiful rear choke serious squeeze @ufk #UFCOrlando
— Charles Rosa (@CharlesRosaMMA) December 4, 2022
Now RDA knows that Conor won’t fight him. #UFCOrlando
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) December 4, 2022
Matheus Nikolaou def. Matt Swift
What a beautiful time these hands #UFCOrlando
— Miss Kianzad UFC (@Miss Kianzad) December 4, 2022
The main thing is time. #UFCOrlando
— John Wayne Makdessi (@JohnMakdessi) December 4, 2022
Call it a good curse, but aside from finishing right after my last tweet, this fight wasn’t fun. He found the finish line, but after using a lateral move to push him into the left straight #UFCOrlando
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) December 4, 2022
Sergey Pavlovich def. ocean tide
Keep your head up my boy Tai Tuivasa.
And Pavlovich… you are REAL…! #UFCOrlando
— Cyril Gane (@ciryl_gane) December 4, 2022
This guy beat Tyson Fury in boxing
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 4, 2022
Wow! Why did this guy do this to Tuivasa?
— GILBERT BURNES DURINO (@GilbertDurinho) December 4, 2022
Sergey Pavlovich is a potential future champion. Boy, this is no joke! #UFCOrlando
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) December 4, 2022
The big boys were throwing!!#UFCOrlando
— Diamond (@DustinPoirier) December 4, 2022
Xs, who is scarier now… Sergei or Francis?! Both have great power! One has devastating kicks, the other has a dominating wrestling… Needless to say, I am looking forward to this match!#UFCOrlando
— Corey “Overtime” Anderson (@CoreyA_MMA) December 4, 2022
Roman Dolidze def. Jack Hermansson
Wow, I imagined that Dolidze would replace the meat grinder.
— Charles “DoBronxs” Oliveira (@CharlesDoBronxs) December 4, 2022
Romaaaaaaaa! Georgia all the way!!#UFCOrlando @ufk
— GIGA CHIKADZE (@giga_chikadze) December 4, 2022
Wow! Dolise is harsh on the ground. Jack was winning on his feet and knocked him down for some reason! Impressive results in a calf slicer! #UFCOrlando
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) December 4, 2022
Go ahead and file this in the “crazy finish” category. Dolidze is dangerous everywhere. Curse. #UFCFightNight
— Tanner Boser (@BulldozerBoser) December 4, 2022
Eric Anders def. Kyle Daukaus
What a finish from Anders but can’t help but wonder how much damage Daukaus Head is going through #UFCOrlando
— Miss Kianzad UFC (@Miss Kianzad) December 4, 2022
Anders looked like he was going to have problems with distance early on, but once he found it, there was no going back. Flawless Performance #ufkorlando
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) December 4, 2022
boiiiiii
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 4, 2022
Phil Rowe def. Niko Price
Phil Rowe!! Rough Bvoy Thing!! #UFCOrlando
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) December 4, 2022
So far it has been FOTN for sure, but since Rowe has missed weight and can’t get $$, probably not. #UFCOrlando
— Casey Oneill (@kingcaseymma) December 4, 2022
Source: www.mmafighting.com