Kevin Holland and Kyle Daukaus fought to a strange non contest, after Holland had been knocked out and submitted in the first round.
Holland would be in the debate for UFC's MVP since the pandemic hit the sport last year, with the American competing five times, and winning all five in 2020.
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This year things have been less successful for the middleweight, with losses to Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori, with the former fight leading to Dana White walking out halfway through.
On Saturday night, the 28-year-old returned to action in the UFC Apex to take on Daukaus, and things certainly ended in an unsatisfactory way in the first round.
Holland was knocked to the ground after an accidental head clash, but managed to scramble his way back into the fight, before Daukaus then tapped his opponent out in the ensuing moments.
However the referee then held a review of the fight and realised that Holland had been knocked out by the accidental head clash and should have ended the fight in a no contest at that point.
Unsurprisingly Daukaus, who was initially given the win, wasn't too happy with the eventual decision. "It just annoys me," the 28-year-old told his post fight press conference.
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"He did recover from the head-butt in a way, and Dan [Miragliotta, the referee] didn’t say anything while we were in there. He was still fighting, so it was fine, to me it was fine.
"If that would’ve happened to me, it would have been fine.
"If he would’ve stood back up and if he would’ve gotten back to his feet and knock me senseless, they would’ve made it a big deal about him on ESPN saying, ‘Oh, he suffered a head-butt and then got up and knocked me out.’
"But because he recovers off of a head-butt gives up his back and I choke him, I get a no contest."
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Holland did agree, saying he really should have lost the fight, having been knocked out and submitting in the round, and admitted he never thought about a no contest.
Holland, whose active 2020 led to him being on the highest paid list for the last calendar year in UFC, instantly asked to run the fight back in the octagon.
The Californian born fighter is known for his talking in the cage, and asked Khabib Nurmagomedov for advice in grappling during his loss to Brunson earlier this year.
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He was at it again on Saturday, talking to commentator, and former two weight UFC champion, Daniel Cormier, whilst in a clinch.
It might not have been the ending anyone would have wanted on Saturday, but there's no doubting that Holland always manages to be entertaining.
Featured Image Credit: BT Sport
