Mike Malott mentioned the second Kevin Holland likened one among his takedowns to a Georges St-Pierre maneuver throughout their welterweight conflict at UFC Combat Night time 262 in Vancouver.
In his first interview since defeating Holland by unanimous choice, Malott described Holland’s trash-talk fashion and shared how the GSP comment struck him as a praise fairly than an insult.
Kevin Holland Admits Mike Malott Takedown Introduced Again Georges St-Pierre Recollections
The co-main occasion happened on October 18, 2025, the place Malott improved to 6-1 within the UFC with a 29-28 rating on all three judges’ playing cards. Holland, getting into with a 15-12 UFC report, absorbed two unintentional low blows within the opening spherical but selected to proceed regardless of a prolonged restoration pause imposed by referee Dan Miragliotta. These strikes turned a focus, however Malott ensured the battle went the gap and secured his greatest win so far.
On The Ariel Helwani Present, Malott mentioned Holland’s strategy was much less hostile than his status steered. “Not every little thing he mentioned was unfavorable,” Malott defined, noting that Holland’s pre-fight banter typically leaned towards quirky observations fairly than outright insults.
When Malott executed a double-leg takedown later within the battle, Holland quipped, “Rattling, that was like a GSP transfer proper there.” Malott recalled, “I simply giggled. That was an ideal praise.”
The Canadian grappler careworn that Holland hardly ever aimed to demean opponents. As a substitute, he employed unconventional remarks to unsettle them. Malott mentioned the trash-talk routine included playful barbs, and the GSP comparability match that sample. “He barely mentioned something within the battle, however the issues he mentioned had been extra quirky and humorous than like trash speaking,” Malott mentioned. “He was observing the battle because it unfolded.”
The victory over a well known veteran like Holland marked a turning level for the 33-year-old from Burlington, Ontario. Earlier than this battle, Malott had rebounded from his lone UFC loss to Neil Magny by defeating Trevin Giles and Charles Radtke. Now, he expects to enter the official welterweight rankings when they’re up to date. “I’m the underside of the ladder, however that is how you start the ascent. You need to begin someplace,” Malott mentioned in Vancouver’s post-fight press convention.
A double-leg takedown is a foundational wrestling technique that Georges St-Pierre elevated with precise timing, seamless level changes. When Mike Malott drove through Holland’s hips and secured control on the mat in a similar fashion, it naturally drew the comparison to St-Pierre’s blueprint for takedowns. Both fighters share a Canadian background that emphasizes strong wrestling base.
