Jun Yong Park scored the first stoppage win of his UFC career in Las Vegas. He submitted Joseph Holmes in the second round of their middleweight fight at the Apex Centre.
Holmes had made the stronger start. The American landed kicks and punches in the opening round with one strike appearing to cause some damage to Park’s eye.
Park was clearly looking to catch his opponent’s kicks and midway through the round he succeeded and promptly took the back. He had both hooks in and was working for a rear naked choke but was swept and finished the round defending a choke attempt from the American.
Holmes made a solid start to the second round firing off more straight punches and low kicks. Park immediately looked to clinch and was able to grab his opponent’s back as he looked to slip out.
The Iron Turtle dominates his way to victory! 🐢
Junyong Park locks in the second round sub at #UFCVegas63 pic.twitter.com/EaEXD606VT
— UFC (@ufc) October 29, 2022
Taking the back
A scramble ensued and Park ended up in mount. Holmes was able to establish his guard so the Korean switched strategy and was able to take the back for the second time in the fight.
He appeared close to locking up a rear naked choke but Holmes escaped only to find himself mounted again. Park took the back again and this time he was ruthless, locking in the submission with the tap coming at the 3:04 mark.
It was the third time Park had finished an opponent with a rear naked choke but the Korean had not won by stoppage since signing with the UFC. With the win he improves to 15-5 while Holmes drops to 8-3.
Having beaten Eryk Anders by split decision at UFC Vegas 55 he will be much happier with his performance here. With five wins in his last six UFC fights the Korean could be close to a top 15 spot.
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Best of the rest
The main event ended prematurely when Calvin Kattar suffered a serious looking knee injury early in the second round. He attempted a flying knee against Arnold Allen but landed awkwardly with the English featherweight claiming a TKO win as a result.
UFC Vegas 63, Las Vegas, October 29th
Arnold Allen def. Calvin Kattar via TKO (Knee injury) at 0:08 of R2
Max Griffin def. Tim Means via Decision (Split)
Waldo Cortes-Acosta def.Jared Vanderaa via Decision (Unanimous)
Tresean Gore def. Josh Fremd via Technical Submission (Guillotine choke) at 0:49 of R2
Khalil Rountree Jr. def. Dustin Jacoby via Decision (Split)
Roman Dolidze def. Phil Hawes via KO (Punches) at 4:09 of R1
Marcos Rogério de Lima def. Andrei Arlovski via Submission (Rear-naked choke) at 1:50 of R1
Jun Yong Park def. Joseph Holmes via Submission (Rear-naked choke) at 3:04 of R2
Steve Garcia def. Chase Hooper via TKO (Punches) at 1:32 of R1
Cody Durden def. Carlos Mota via Decision (Unanimous)
Christian Rodriguez def. Joshua Weems via Submission (Anaconda choke) at 4:07 of R1
Kevin Belingon vs. Kim Jae Woong (Bantamweight)
