The best and worst from UFC 256: Figueiredo vs. Moreno

#2 Best: Kevin Holland’s crazy knockout of Jacare

Kevin Holland picked up his biggest UFC win to date over Jacare Souza

I’ll be honest and say that I never expected Kevin Holland to beat Jacare Souza in a million years. Sure, Jacare is at the tail-end of his UFC career now, but he’s still one of the best athletes and the greatest grapplers in the world at 185lbs.

And Holland, up to this point at least, had done nothing to suggest he was ready for elite-level competition.

That all changed last night. ‘The Trailblazer’ looked incredibly confident, showed no fear of Jacare’s vaunted ground game, and incredibly, picked up one of the best KO’s in UFC history.

Somehow, after fending a ground attack from the Brazilian off, Holland was able to land a remarkably heavy right hand from his back. Jacare was badly stunned, and before he could even attempt to recover, Holland followed with a series of punches that knocked him silly.

It was only the second time a fighter had knocked their opponent out from the bottom in UFC, and it was also Holland’s fifth win of 2020, which is ridiculous.

It’s probably time for observers – myself included – to stop doubting Holland now. He’s a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, he clearly hits hard, and he’s ultra-confident. He’s clearly ready for the elite level of UFC after all, and this was his biggest win to date.

HOW DID HE... BUT... 🗣 @Trailblaze2top is an absolute mad man! #UFC256 pic.twitter.com/ObZfK73v2w

— UFC (@ufc) December 13, 2020

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#2 Worst: JDS’ complaints take away from Gane’s win

Former UFC champ Junior Dos Santos was well beaten by Ciryl Gane

The main card opener saw hot prospect Ciryl Gane pick up his biggest UFC win yet, as he knocked out former UFC Heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos in the second round. It was a pretty great performance from ‘Bon Gamin’, who broke JDS down with his heavy low kicks before stopping him with a nasty elbow.

However, I felt like the complaints from Dos Santos around the nature of the finish unfairly took away from Gane’s accomplishment. Essentially, the Frenchman stunned the former UFC champ with a hard jab and then dropped him with an elbow to the temple.

JDS, though, felt that the elbow had connected with the back of the head – making it an illegal blow. Referee Jerin Valel disagreed, feeling that the shot was clearly legal, and so thankfully, Gane was handed his fourth UFC win.

But even if the blow had connected to the back of the head, realistically, Dos Santos would only have had himself to blame. He was turning away from Gane at the time, clearly trying to avoid more punishment.

This was a huge win for Gane, but as a longtime veteran and former UFC champion, Dos Santos should perhaps have accepted his loss with a little more grace.

Hou la la!🇫🇷 @Ciryl_Gane is forreal, folks! #UFC256 pic.twitter.com/eAlmE9J2OC

— UFC (@ufc) December 13, 2020

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#3 Best: Oliveira shows he’s got UFC title credentials in his win over Ferguson

Charles Oliveira dominated Tony Ferguson in UFC 256's co-main event

UFC 256’s co-main event between Tony Ferguson and Charles Oliveira wasn’t quite as exciting as fans might’ve hoped going in, but it was a tremendous win for Oliveira nonetheless. ‘Do Bronx’ dominated Ferguson, almost snapping his arm in the first round and outstriking him throughout the fight.

It was the Brazilian’s best UFC win to date, and incredibly, it was his eighth UFC win in a row in what is usually considered the promotion’s deepest weight class.

Oliveira has gone from being a fighter who’s fantastic on offense but weak in terms of his ability to weather punishment into a genuine beast. He can now strike with the best fighters in the division, wrestle just as well as anyone, and we all know how good his submission skills are.

Sure, it’s worth suggesting that Justin Gaethje may have taken Ferguson’s soul somewhat with the beating he put on him in April, but that isn’t really the point. ‘El Cucuy’ is still one of UFC’s most dangerous Lightweights and Oliveira absolutely handled him.

Simply put, 2021 should be time for ‘Do Bronx’ to get a UFC Lightweight title shot. He’s more than earned it.