If we had been been handed a script detailing the events of Teddy Holder’s Saturday, we’d have dumped it right in the bin due to lack of any realism.
Holder was something of a no-name in the context of the global mixed martial arts stage as of Saturday morning but he quickly made fight fans sit up and take notice at WSOF 19 last night.
The American stepped in on just three hours notice to face UFC veteran Thiago Silva after Silva’s initial opponent, Matt Hamill, withdrew from the bout with an illness.
If that wasn’t Hollywood enough for you, Holder (9-1) was gettting lit up by Silva (16-4, 2NC) on the feet at the beginning of the bout and his unconsciousness looked like an inevitability.
https://youtu.be/YZrzeEfFzFI
But Holder, who was initially booked in a reserve bout for the World Series of Fighting event, dug deep and caught Silva with a short right hook that landed straight on the Brazilian’s temple and dropped him.
Promotional newcomer Holder went on to put forward a relentless ground and pound attack before the referee jumped in and waved the fight off, giving Holder the biggest scalp of his mixed martial arts career and making MMA fans the world over believe in the underdog.
