Reinier de Ridder Submits Kevin Holland at UFC 311
This 2024 preview looked ahead to a middleweight matchup at UFC 311. The fight is now part of both men’s UFC stories: Reinier de Ridder submitted Kevin Holland in the first round, and both have since added notable results.
What happened at UFC 311
On January 18, 2025, de Ridder took Holland down and finished him with a rear-naked choke at 3:31 of the first round. The UFC’s official results record the finish. It was de Ridder’s second UFC win, and the bout ended before Holland’s striking could develop.
Holland returned to winning form
Holland beat Randy Brown by unanimous decision at UFC 327 on April 11, 2026; all three judges scored it 30–27. The official scorecards confirm the result, providing a more current measure of Holland’s form than the record and injury references in this 2024 preview.
De Ridder carried his grappling to light heavyweight
De Ridder later competed at light heavyweight. At UFC Sacramento on August 22, 2026, he stopped Roman Dolidze with strikes at 4:01 of the first round. The UFC’s official scorecards list the TKO. The Holland bout remains an early example of how quickly de Ridder’s grappling can change a fight.
Looking back
The original stakes discussion was written before the result. De Ridder got the statement win the preview anticipated, while Holland later found a decision victory over Brown. Their matchup is a concise snapshot of two different strengths: Holland’s varied offense and de Ridder’s control-led submission game.
