For all the hype and effort around the UFC 291, a bout in the welterweight division could steal the show. Michael Chiesa and Kevin Holland will begin the main card and the two are definitely known to bring it.
UFC 291: Michael Chiesa-Kevin Holland Could Be Fight Of The Night
UFC 291 takes place this Saturday night live on ESPN+ pay-per-view from Salt Lake City, Utah. In the main event, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje square off for a second time, with the “BMF” belt on the line this time.
The main card also features former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz back in action, as he battles Alex Pereira, Stephen Thompson vs. Michel Pereira and Tony Ferguson vs. Bobby Green.
In the opener, though, could definitely be the show-stealer of the night.
Welterweights Michael Chiesa and Kevin Holland will look to set the tone when they meet on another.
Michael Chiesa Back For First Time In Almost Two Years
A former Ultimate Fighter winner, it has been almost two full years since we last saw Chiesa in action. On that November night in Las Vegas, he was on the losing end of a decision to Sean Brady.
Chiesa also fell to Vicente Luque by submission in 2021, meaning he is looking for his first win since January 2021 when he bested Neil Magny. That was the final victory of a four-fight win streak that also included triumphs vs. former UFC champions Rafael dos Anjos and Carlos Condit.
Overall, Chiesa has been in two “Fight of the Night” bouts and won three more “Submission” and “Performance of the Night” bonuses. He holds an overall record of 18-6 with 11 submission wins to his credit.
Kevin Holland Looking For Solid Run Next
For Holland, it has been an up-and-down past few years. His two-fight win streak, which included a finish of Alex Oliveira, was halted by Khamzat Chimaev last year.
He followed that up with a “Fight of the Night” effort in a loss to Thompson in the main event when his corner stopped the bout after four rounds. However, this past April, he bounced back, finishing Santiago Ponzinibbio in the third.
Like his opponent, Holland has one “Fight of the Night” and five more “Performance of the Night” bonuses to his name. He also has the most wins in a calendar year in the UFC’s middleweight division at five and the most bouts in a 12-month period with seven.
