Roman Dolidze and Kevin Holland practically had Spherical 2 within the backstage space following their UFC 307 bout.
In a foremost card middleweight contest, Dolidze got here away with a first-round nook stoppage TKO victory after Holland suffered a rib damage throughout a grappling scramble. After the combat, UFC broadcast associate Sportsnet reported that Dolidze and Holland received into it within the again. Dolidze’s coach Eric Nicksick confirmed the data and offered extra perception.
“So I all the time deliver an additional hat or some stuff within the bucket and to present it to a child or any person out within the crowd,” Nicksick advised MMA Combating. “In order that they went again to medicals, I went out with [Aljamain Sterling], and I used to be giving a hat away to some child that I noticed, after which after I walked again to medicals, I suppose Kevin and Roman… like Kevin was chirping at Roman the entire time by the medical tent, after which it simply escalated into Kevin saying some actually not very stylish issues to Roman, after which Roman getting fairly pissed off after which that needed to get separated.
“Feelings are firing at that second, and it sucks, man, as a result of nobody wished to combat to finish that approach. It wasn’t our alternative both. Kevin made the choice to inform his nook concerning the rib, made Coach Bob Perez decide about protecting his fighter within the combat, so we didn’t do something incorrect. So to take it that route, I used to be fairly upset.”
Nicksick and Holland have constructed a pleasant relationship over time, and considers Holland “a superb pal of mine.” Whereas it’s troublesome to nook and coach in opposition to a fighter you’ve respect for, it’s much more troublesome when the state of affairs will get a bit out of hand.
The Xtreme Couture head man did say that Holland reached out after the incident.
“Kevin texted me and apologized,” Nicksick defined. “I advised Kevin, you recognize, ‘I want it didn’t go to that extent.’ I do know that feelings are excessive in that second however shit, man, it’s a combat and I want it didn’t have to show into saying issues that he stated.”
In the mean time, Nicksick and Holland are in a greater spot, however the state of affairs between the latter and Dolidze might want to take a bit extra time, it seems.
“I wouldn’t say they’re cool, however hopefully cooler heads will prevail on the finish of this, and we are able to transfer on,” Nicksick stated.
