Beneil Dariush knocks out Scott Holtzman with a spinning backfist in August 2020.
Beneil Dariush gets highlight reel KO win over Scott Holtzman
The UFC APEX will play host again for UFC on ESPN+ 32 tonight, Saturday, Aug. 8.
Heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Alexey Olenik are set to headline with middleweights Omari Akhmedov and Chris Weidman clashing in the co-main event.
The main card kicks off with an interesting matchup in the lightweight division as Beneil Dariush meets Scott Holtzman.
Dariush (18-4-1) will come into the bout ranked No. 14 in the world according to the official UFC rankings. After a tough stretch in 2017 into early 2018 where Dariush went 0-2-1, he has now gotten himself back on the winning path as he’s won his past four fights. In his last outing, Dariush got a knockout win over Drakkar Klose in March at UFC 248.
Holtzman (14-3) is coming off the biggest of his career. In February, Holtzman was on the winning end of a hard-fought unanimous decision against UFC veteran Jim Miller. That win now puts the Tennessee native on a two-fight winning streak and his confidence is now at the highest its ever been.
Here’s a round-by-round break of their fight. For a full list of results you can click here.
Round 1
Dariush with a hard kick to the body to start things out and then within the first 10 seconds Holtzman accidentally pokes Dariush in the eye and the action is stopped.
Once action resumes, Holtzman goes to the body and lands. He then goes upstairs, but once again pokes Dariush in the eye and action is stopped. Referee Herb Dean warns Holtzman that he will take a point if it happens again.
Again the action resumes and Dariush goes to the clinch, but he can’t get a takedown and the two grapple against the cage and Holtzman gets out. Once the clinch broken, Dariush lands a knee that has Holtzman hurt bad.
Dariush is trying for the finish and Holtzman is bleeding after eating a few heavy shots. Dariush tries for a takedown, but Holtzman won’t go down.
One minute left in the round and Dariush lands a big punch. The blood is really coming from Holtzman’s eye.
With just under 30 seconds left in the round, Dariush picks up another highlight reel KO as he lands spinning back fist that lays Holtzman out and Dariush gets himself another walk off knockout win.
Official decision: Beneil Dariush defeats Scott Holtzman by first-round KO (4:38)
