UFC 318: Kevin Holland vs Daniel Rodriguez

Kevin Holland stepped into the Octagon aiming to build on his busy 2025 campaign, facing off against veteran Daniel “D‑Rod” Rodriguez. The fight opened explosively, with Holland utilizing leg kicks and jab combinations to find his rhythm, while Rodriguez tested early with left hands. Midway through Round 1, Rodriguez landed a flush left that rocked Holland, but Holland answered back with his own barrage of punches by the end of the frame, setting the tone for a back-and-forth battle.

In Round 2, the fight swung in Rodriguez’s favor. He dropped Holland with a powerful left and mounted top control, nearly finishing the fight and keeping Holland on survival mode. Holland managed to rally, briefly securing a takedown and dodging a late guillotine attempt from Rodriguez.

Round 3 was a classic UFC thriller. Holland stunned Rodriguez with a stand-up knockdown and hunted for a D’arce choke before Rodriguez defended and responded with control time of his own. Rodriguez ultimately landed in mount late in the round and unloaded significant strikes until the horn, leaving no doubt with the judges.

After three brutal rounds, Daniel Rodriguez emerged victorious via unanimous decision (30‑27, 29‑28, 29‑28), earning a thrilling upset in a fight many had favored Holland to win. In his post-fight interview, Rodriguez emphasized his resolve: “I did that, let’s go! You can never count me out. … That third round, I earned that.” A true war in the welterweight division that reaffirmed both fighters’ toughness and heart.