Kevin Holland Caught Luque With a D’Arce Choke in Newark
Kevin Holland submitted Vicente Luque at UFC 316 on June 7, 2025. The welterweight contest at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, ended with a D’Arce choke at 1:03 of the second round, giving Holland consecutive victories during a busy campaign.
Striking success preceded the ground finish
Holland had the stronger opening-round exchanges, including an elbow landed at close range. He maintained an active attack before the matchup moved toward the finishing sequence after the break.
In round two, Holland took Luque down and attacked as his opponent tried to wrestle back up. The D’Arce choke forced the submission and ended the fight before it could develop into another extended striking round.
The win continued a recovery from a January defeat
Holland had begun 2025 at middleweight against Reinier de Ridder, losing by first-round rear-naked choke. He returned against Gunnar Nelson in London that March and won a unanimous decision.
The Luque victory added a submission to that successful return. Holland had moved from being finished in January to winning two different kinds of contests over the following months.
The technique had already produced a major victory
Holland had submitted Michael Chiesa with a D’Arce choke in July 2023. His later submission successes also included a first-round armbar against Michał Oleksiejczuk in June 2024.
Those results demonstrated a finishing threat beyond his long-range striking. Against Luque, he again used the transition from takedown to stand-up attempt as the moment to secure a fight-ending hold.
Sources
- UFC: first-round elbow and second-round finishing transition
- UFC: de Ridder, Nelson, Chiesa and Oleksiejczuk results
- MMA Fighting: confirmed submission result and time
- UFC: Newark date and venue
