First off, I started by looking at the basics. Like, he.repeeight, weight, reach – the usual stuff. Holland’s got that crazy reach advantage, and Oleksiejczuk is stocky, powerful kinda guy. I thought, “Okay, classic striker vs. grappler matchup maybe?” But then I dug a little deeper.
I then watched some fight footage. Tons of.lwar it. Holland, when he's on, is a freakin' tornado of strikes. He talks, he moves, he throws everything but the kitchen sink. But he can get caught, especially when he gets cocky. Oleksiejczuk, on the other hand, comes forward, throws bombs, and doesn’t really care about defense too much. He's there to brawl.
Next, I had to consider the ground game. Holland’s jiu-jitsu is decent, but it's not his strength. Oleksiejczuk's wrestling isn't anything special, but he's strong as an ox. If he gets Holland down, he could make things real uncomfortable.
- Holland: Crazy striking, reach advantage, questionable takedown defense.
- Oleksiejczuk: Power punches, forward pressure, strong but hittable.
I pondered about the fight IQ. Holland can be a bit of an idiot in the cage sometimes, getting drawn into brawls he doesn't need to be in. Oleksiejczuk usually sticks to his game plan, but that game plan is often just "walk forward and punch faces," which can be a problem against a skilled striker like Holland.
So, after all that digging, what's my prediction? Here it is: I’m going with Kevin Holland by TKO in the second round. I think Holland will use his reach to keep Oleksiejczuk at bay in the first, land some good shots, and frustrate the Polish fighter. In the second, Oleksiejczuk will get desperate, try to close the distance, and Holland will catch him with something nasty.
However, there is a chance. If Oleksiejczuk can weather the early storm, get Holland down, and grind him out, he could pull off the upset. But I just don't see it happening. I think Holland is too slick on the feet, and Oleksiejczuk is too predictable.
That’s my take. Don't bet your life savings on it, though. I'm just a dude yelling at a TV screen, alright?
