UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland

UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland
The poster for UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland
Information
Promotion	Ultimate Fighting Championship
Date	March 20, 2021 (2021-03-20)
Venue	UFC Apex
City	Enterprise, Nevada, United States
Attendance	None (behind closed doors) [1]
Event chronology
UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland UFC 260: Miocic vs. Ngannou 2

UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland (also known as UFC on ESPN 21 and UFC Vegas 22) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on March 20, 2021 at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States. ^[2]

Background

A middleweight bout between Derek Brunson and Kevin Holland served as the event headliner. ^[3]

A women's bantamweight bout between Marion Reneau and The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters women's featherweight winner Macy Chiasson was originally scheduled for UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov. ^[4] However, during the week leading up to the fight, Reneau was pulled from the card after testing positive for COVID-19. The bout was expected to remain intact and was rescheduled for UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane. ^[5] They were once again rescheduled on February 20, due to Chiasson suffering an injury, with the pairing taking place at this event. ^[6]

A light heavyweight bout between Paul Craig and Jamahal Hill was expected to place at the event. ^[7] However on March 10, Hill withdrew from the bout after testing positive for COVID-19. Promotion officials have not confirmed, but the pairing is expected to remain intact and be rescheduled for a future event. ^[8]

Former KSW Welterweight Champion Dricus du Plessis was expected to face Trevin Giles in a middleweight bout at this event. ^[9] However, du Plessis pulled out due to visa issues and was replaced by Roman Dolidze. ^[10]

A women's strawweight bout between Kay Hansen and promotional newcomer Cheyanne Vlismas was scheduled for the event. ^[11] However, Hansen pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced on March 12 by promotional newcomer Montserrat Ruiz. ^[12]

A bantamweight bout between Johnny Eduardo and Anthony Birchak was expected to take place at the event. ^[13] However on March 15, Eduardo withdrew from the bout due to visa issues and the bout was scrapped. ^[14]

Don'Tale Mayes was expected to face Tai Tuivasa in a heavyweight bout at the event. ^[15] However, Mayes was removed from the fight during the week leading up to the event for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer Harry Hunsucker. ^[16]

At the weigh-ins, Jesse Strader weighed in at 137.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at a catchweight and he was fined 20% of his individual purse, which went to his opponent Montel Jackson. ^[17] Meanwhile, former Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion Julija Stoliarenko made the weight for her bout against Julia Avila, but the contest was cancelled due to health concerns as Stoliarenko collapsed twice off the scales during her attempts. ^[18]

A lightweight bout between Gregor Gillespie and Brad Riddell was expected to take serve as the co-main event. ^[19] However, it was cancelled on the day of the event due to COVID-19 protocols. ^[20]

Results

Main Card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Middleweight	Derek Brunson	def.	Kevin Holland	Decision (unanimous) (49–45, 49–46, 49–46)	5	5:00
Welterweight	Max Griffin	def.	Song Kenan	KO (punches)	1	2:20
Women's Strawweight	Montserrat Ruiz	def.	Cheyanne Vlismas	Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–27)	3	5:00
Bantamweight	Adrian Yanez	def.	Gustavo Lopez	KO (punch)	3	0:27
Heavyweight	Tai Tuivasa	def.	Harry Hunsucker	TKO (punches)	1	0:49
Preliminary Card (ESPN2 / ESPN+)
Women's Bantamweight	Macy Chiasson	def.	Marion Reneau	Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)	3	5:00
Lightweight	Grant Dawson	def.	Leonardo Santos	KO (punches)	3	4:59
Middleweight	Trevin Giles	def.	Roman Dolidze	Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)	3	5:00
Catchweight (137.5 lb)	Montel Jackson	def.	Jesse Strader	TKO (punches)	1	1:58
Flyweight	Bruno Gustavo da Silva	def.	JP Buys	TKO (punches)	2	2:56

^[21]

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses. ^[22]

• Fight of the Night: No bonus awarded.
• Performance of the Night: Max Griffin, Adrian Yanez, Grant Dawson and Bruno Gustavo da Silva

See also

• Martial Arts portal

• List of UFC events
• List of current UFC fighters
• 2021 in UFC

References

1. Mike Bohn (2021-03-21). "UFC on ESPN 21 post-event facts: Derek Brunson climbs all-time wins list". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-03-21.
2. Nolan King (2021-02-09). "Nevada Athletic Commission approves four UFC events for March in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
3. Brett Okamoto (2020-12-29). "Kevin Holland-Derek Brunson to headline UFC Fight Night in March". espn.com. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
4. Matt Erickson and John Morgan (2020-11-13). "Marion Reneau vs. Macy Chiasson set for UFC Fight Night on Feb. 6". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
5. Staff (2021-02-03). "Marion Reneau positive for COVID-19, bout vs. Macy Chiasson pushed back three weeks". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
6. Daniel Vreeland (2021-02-20). "UFC: Chiasson vs. Reneau moved again, this time to March 20 card". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
7. Nolan King (2021-01-15). "UFC adds Paul Craig vs. Jamahal Hill to March 20 lineup". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
8. Farrah Hannoun (2021-03-10). "UFC on ESPN 21 co-main event scrapped after Jamahal Hill forced to withdraw from Paul Craig bout". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
9. Staff (2021-01-13). "Trevin Giles vs. Dricus Du Plessis added to UFC event on March 20". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2021-01-13.(in Dutch)
10. Alexander K. Lee and Mike Heck (2021-03-10). "Dricus Du Plessis out of UFC Vegas 22, Roman Dolidze steps in to fight Trevin Giles". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
11. Jay Anderson (2020-12-31). "Kay Hansen vs. Cheyanne Buys Added to UFC's March 20 Card". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
12. Mike Heck and Damon Martin (2021-03-12). "With Kay Hansen out, Cheyanne Buys now meets fellow newcomer Montserrat Ruiz at UFC Vegas 22". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
13. Nolan King and Farrah Hannoun (2021-02-18). "Johnny Eduardo returns from 33-month layoff, fights Anthony Birchak at March 20 UFC event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
14. Guilherme Cruz and Mike Heck (2021-03-15). "Johnny Eduardo out of UFC Vegas 22 fight with Anthony Birchak". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
15. Farah Hannoun and Nolan King (2021-01-20). "Tai Tuivasa vs. Don'Tale Mayes added to UFC Fight Night on March 20". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
16. Nolan King and John Morgan (2021-03-17). "Tai Tuivasa gets Harry Hunsucker as new opponent for UFC on ESPN 21". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
17. Staff (2021-03-19). "UFC on ESPN 21 weigh-in results: Stoliarenko falls on stage, bout scratched". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
18. Mike Bohn and John Morgan (2021-03-19). "Julija Stoliarenko collapses twice in scary scene at UFC on ESPN 21 weigh-ins, stretchered out". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
19. Mike Heck and Damon Martin (2021-02-19). "Gregor Gillespie vs. Brad Riddell added to UFC event on March 20". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
20. Mike Bohn (2021-03-20). "COVID-19 protocols cause Gregor Gillespie vs. Brad Riddell scratch from UFC on ESPN 21". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
21. "UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
22. Tristen Critchfield (2021-03-21). "UFC on ESPN 21 Bonuses: Griffin, Yanez, Dawson, Silva Earn Performance Checks". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2021-03-21.