Poatan shaken after being knocked out by Gane at UFC. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC
After much complaining about his loss to Ciryl Gane , Alex Poatan is now experiencing the other side of the coin. In June, in Washington (USA), the Brazilian had a disastrous debut in the UFC heavyweight division (up to 120,2 kg) and was brutally knocked out by Ciryl Gane in the second round. Dissatisfied, the athlete blamed referee Herb Dean for the tough defeat and criticized the referee's conduct in the octagon. However, Kevin Holland believes the veteran is wrong in his assessment.
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In an interview with 'MMA Fighting', the UFC star slammed Poatan for his attitude after being knocked out. Furthermore, Holland is just one of many fans and professionals in the sport who are criticizing the Brazilian for not taking his defeat against Gane well.
It's worth highlighting that, in addition to campaigning for the referee to be expelled from the UFC and claiming that Gane hit him with a 'lucky punch', the athlete now emphasizes that a rematch is the fight that needs to happen in the division. However, in Holland's view, Poatan is the one most at fault in this story, as he should accept the defeat instead of complaining and looking for someone to blame and make excuses.
“I think we’re all thinking about Alex’s situation. I remember Jamahal complaining a lot about Herb Dean getting in between them and not restarting the fight properly. Nobody said anything about that. I think it’s the same thing. We all know what we’re doing when we get in there and they’re there to protect us,” he said.
“Sometimes they manage to protect us completely, other times they don’t. In the end, before the fight starts, it’s said: protect yourself at all times. We have to protect ourselves. It’s part of the game. I signed a contract to be a fighter. I try to be a fighter above all else. If there’s ever a situation where I can’t fight, damn, that hurts me more than anyone else.”
“That’s what we signed up for. Win, lose, or draw, you signed up to do this. So, accept what comes. I have two children. I don’t want them to grow up thinking it’s normal to cry and complain. There’s no reason to complain and whine. Do better next time and solve the problem. Be a man,” he concluded.
Holland focused before fighting in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
Watch Ciryl Gane's knockout of Alex Poatan.
HE JUST DID THAT 😮💨 @Ciryl_Gane creates an unforgettable moment as he earns the RD2 TKO victory! #UFCWhiteHouse LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus!
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— UFC (@ufc) June 15, 2026
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