The rocket-like start to the UFC Vancouver Fight Night, which saw six of the seven preliminary fights end in a finish ended up teetering off a bit towards the second half of the main card, which culminated in a not-so-thrilling Reinier de Ridder retirement at the end of the fourth round against Brendan Allen in the main event.
The co-main event, which saw Burlington, Ontario native, Mike Malott, take on esteemed veteran and fan-favorite fighter, Kevin Holland, was also not quite the brawl that many hoped it would be coming into the evening.
Instead, the fight was marred by two groin strikes, the second of which kept the 7-year UFC veteran on the ground for the full five minutes, before he managed to eventually, gingerly make his way back to his feet and continue the fight with just over a minute remaining in the first round of the fight.
Kevin Holland Not Happy With Mike Malott After Groin Strikes
Holland, who did not move the same after the strike to the groin, went on to lose the fight. And speaking on Yahoo’s Uncrowned network with Ariel Helwani, Malott explained that there was a frosty exchange of words between the pair after the bout.
Malott explained that despite him extending the olive branch in the off-camera post-fight, Holland still seemed sour about how the events unfolded.
“Backstage we communicated I was like, ‘Hey man, sorry for the groin shots, hope you’re alright’. He was like, ‘That was cheap man, that was cheap’. I’m like, ‘Dude, do you think I’m trying to kick you in the groin? That’s not what I came here to do.’”
“I tried to apologize a couple of times, we’re in there fighting man – stuff happens. What do you want me to do man? I’m not a dirty fighter, I’m not out there trying to do anything greasy. I’m just wanted to go out there and have a good performance.”
Mike Malott Set To Enter Rankings After Impressive Win
Some argued that the referee should have taken a point from Malott, given the severity of the strike and the nature of it being a repeated offense.
This would have made the fight a draw, considering that all three judges scored the fight 29-28 – certainly a more favorable outcome for Holland given the circumstances.
It also would have likely kept Holland at #15 in the UFC Welterweight Rankings, a position he will almost certainly now forfeit to the Canadian when the new rankings come out on Tuesday.
After the fight, in speaking to the media, Malott said he didn’t have a preference for any specific matchup in the top 15.
However, he did say that his preference would be to once again fight in Canada. The UFC normally goes up north twice a year, and with Calgary, Alberta suggested as a potential destination earlier on in the afternoon, perhaps Malott will be able to fight just a few hours drive from his latest victory on the West Coast.
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