UFC Vegas 55: Ketlen Vieira upsets Holly Holm in the main event.
Ketlen Vieira defeated Holly Holm via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47), on Saturday, May 21, 2022, live from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, NV.
“Listen, everybody, listen to me, I’m next,” said Vieira following the fight when asked by Daniel Cormier how closely she will be watching the UFC 277 main event between bantamweight champion Julianna Pena and Amanda Nunes.
“I thought I won the fight, I gave her Round 2, but I thought I won the fight. I didn’t feel like it was a question,” said Holm, who was unsure of where she will go next following the loss.
UFC Vegas 55: Ketlen Vieira upsets Holly Holm
The fight opened with both women trading leg kicks. Vieira charged in for the first takedown attempt but Holm easily reversed it against the fence. The action briefly went to the ground before returning to the feet. From the clinch, Holm landed several short knees, while Vieira landed short punches. Holm went for a single leg takedown but quickly gave up on the attempt. Referee Jason Herzog gave the women plenty of leeway up against the fence. Vieira tripped Holm but Holm easily got back up to her feet and continued to clinch.
Holm opened the second round by landing two leg kicks but Vieira responded with a head kick. Vieira came forward and landed a combination but back out to avoid being caught in another extended clinch. Holm landed a leg kick. Vieira landed an overhand right and then threw Holm to the ground. Holm retreated to the fence and was able to work back up to her feet. Holm went for a takedown attempt but Vieira was able to maintain her balance and get to the fence. Vieira reversed the takedown attempt and locked in a standing rear-naked choke. It looked like Holm was going to go out but was able to escape. The fight returned to the fence with Holm controlling the clinch until the end of the round.
Vieira landed a pair of sharp strikes to open the third round. Holm responded with leg kicks. The fight again moved up against the fence and engaged in another clinch. The clinch broke and the action returned to the middle. Vieira pushed forward while Holm was happy to counterstrike. Holm pushed the fight up against the fence and another clinch. Vieira landed a pair of strong knees but Holm controlled the positioning. Vieira broke the clinch with a big right hand and continued to come forward. Vieira landed another right hand that appeared to stun Holm near the end of the round.
Holm aggressively started the fourth round with a high number of strikes. Vieira landed a counter right that stung Holm. The two women continued to trade strikes, with the damage showing on Holm’s face. Vieira continued to land with her counter right. Holm landed a powerful side kick to the body that dropped Vieira, who was able to get back to her feet almost immediately and land another right hand. The fight moved against the fence but Vieira was able to get away from the clinch.
Between rounds, Vieira’s corner ripped into her, telling her that she lost the fourth round and needed to win the fifth round if she was going to win. Vieira opened the round with a head kick and landed a spinning elbow. Holm landed a pair of kicks before engaging in another clinch. Following the break, Holm landed a trio of shots, headlined by a head kick. Holm landed a right hook but Vieira caught her with a right uppercut. Holm went for a single leg takedown but again Vieira was able to keep her balance and move to the fence.
From the clinch, Holm again controlled the position. Holm overpowered Vieira, moving her back up against the fence following the break. Vieira went for a takedown but stumbled, allowing Holm to defend it with ease. Holm changed levels and went for her takedown but couldn’t get it.
Holm entered Las Vegas as the second-ranked fighter in the UFC’s women’s bantamweight division. The former bantamweight champion made her return to the Octagon after a 19-month layoff. Holm had won three of her previous four fights, with her only loss coming against Amanda Nunes at UFC 239. In her last fight, Holm defeated Irene Aldana.
Vieira entered the Octagon ranked fifth in the division. After starting her career 10-0, Vieira split her last four fights prior to fighting Holm. Vieira defeated former bantamweight champion, Miesha Tate, in her previous fight by decision. Following her second straight victory over a former bantamweight champion, Vieira will likely face the winner of the UFC 277 between Pena and Nunes.
