UFC 291: 3 things we learned

A UFC card in Salt Lake City once again rewarded us with entertaining fights and tremendous surprises.

UFC 291 held a lot of weight due to the bar set by its predecessor earlier in July. While it wasn’t as flawless as UFC 290, UFC 291 still lived up to what it was on paper for the most part.

Here's when we sit at the end and go over the moral(s) of the story. We can take this in so many different directions. How Tony Ferguson’s career continues to spiral after a submission loss to Bobby Green and Derrick Lewis throwing flying knees in a record-breaking performance are worth a mention. With that out of the way, here are the three biggest takeaways from UFC 291.

1. Kevin Holland's activity will be the key to his success

The best way to improve your craft is to keep doing it. This statement is especially true for Kevin Holland after securing his second win of 2023. Micheal Chiesa was supposed to be a challenging opponent for Holland-- he looked the part for the opening minutes of the fight. About halfway through the first round, Holland secured a D'arce choke to seal the win.

Holland fought four times and went 2-2 in 2022. He has stepped in the Octagon 14 times since 2020 and plans to take more fights before 2023 winds down.

Regardless of the results, Holland continues to look sharp with each outing. He takes his losses to the chin and returns to the drawing board. When he wins, he does so humbly and sharpens what works for him. While clearly talented, Holland is also one of the most entertaining personalities in MMA.

He expressed his willingness to fight whoever, not limiting himself to a weight class. The work he puts in at this rate will surely pay off in the long run.