Kevin Holland vs Thiago Santos — Fight recap

Thiago Santos defeated Kevin Holland via unanimous decision after three rounds on August 4, 2018, with referee Mike Beltran officiating. Santos controlled the fight through superior grappling, landing 69 significant strikes to Holland's 31 while securing three takedowns at a 42% clip and dominating positional control with 9:37 of mat time compared to Holland's 1:10.

Holland, fighting as a striker, connected on 56% of his significant strikes (31 of 55) but failed to convert his lone takedown attempt and managed just one submission try throughout. Santos's wrestling proved decisive, allowing him to dictate pace and prevent Holland from establishing rhythm with his striking.

The unanimous decision reflected Santos's control advantage and successful takedown defense strategy that neutralized Holland's offensive output. Santos's performance reinforced his status as a legitimate middleweight contender with well-rounded skills.