At UFC 318 on July 21, 2025, Daniel Rodriguez secured a unanimous decision victory against Kevin Holland at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Following the intense middleweight bout, Rodriguez faced allegations from Holland accusing him of being unusually slippery, sparking discussion surrounding Daniel Rodriguez UFC greasing allegation claims.
Details of the UFC 318 Bout and Allegations
During the matchup, Rodriguez displayed a difficult-to-grip fighting style that Holland later criticized on social media, describing Rodriguez as “like a soap bar.” Despite Holland’s frustration after being hospitalized post-fight, Rodriguez firmly denied any wrongdoing, attributing his slickness solely to sweat.
In a post-fight interview with Ariel Helwani, Rodriguez addressed Holland’s claims directly.
“He said I was slippery and I was hard to grab, but that’s sweat, bro,”
Rodriguez explained. He elaborated on their third round exchange, where Holland attempted a chokehold but failed due to improper positioning. Rodriguez said,
“I’m assuming [he thought I was greasing], but there weren’t too many grappling exchanges, other than in the 3rd round when he went for the choke, but he didn’t even have it at the right angle. I was able to just turn my body, get my shoulder out, and ended up back on top.”
Rodriguez’s Strategy and Response to the Greasing Claims
Rodriguez further clarified the source of his slickness by revealing a tactical decision beforehand.
“One thing I did do, though, as kind of a strategy, was I shaved my head. My head was freshly shaved. I knew if he tried to get me in the d’arce, I’d slip my head out real slick,”
he said.
These comments underscored Rodriguez’s confidence in his technique and explained why grappling attempts by Holland were unsuccessful. Despite repeated accusations over the years in UFC, fighters often find themselves labeled as slippery when sweat naturally affects hold and grip during intense physical contests. Rodriguez’s explanation fits within this common occurrence inside the octagon.
Context on Rodriguez’s Recent Fighting History
This victory marked Rodriguez’s third consecutive win after suffering defeats to Neil Magny, Ian Machado Garry, and Kelvin Gastelum. The smooth yet relentless performance at UFC 318 illustrated his return to form, countering any doubts about his condition or tactics.
Kevin Holland’s frustration after the bout, highlighted by his social media remark,
“That boy was like a soap bar but good boxing, sorry for all the parlays we fooked up,”
captured the intensity of their confrontation but added fuel to the greasing controversy.
Implications for Future Fights and UFC Discussions
Rodriguez’s dismissal of the greasing allegations keeps the focus on his fighting ability and resilience rather than any rule violations. His ability to control the fight, particularly in the grappling exchanges, suggests a high level of skill and preparation.
As UFC competition intensifies with fighters like Rodriguez and Holland at the forefront, the discussion around greasing allegations will likely continue when fighters exhibit unusual slipperiness. However, sweat and strategic preparation remain the most accepted explanations for such scenarios.
Daniel Rodriguez’s win advances his standing in the UFC middleweight division, with audiences eager to see how he builds on this momentum. Meanwhile, the rivalry with Kevin Holland adds another dramatic chapter to UFC 318’s legacy inside the Smoothie King Center.
“D-Rod responds to possible greasing allegations from Kevin Holland: ‘I was hard to grab, but that’s sweat. In the 3rd round when he went for the choke, he didn’t even have it at the right angle. I was able to just turn my body, get my shoulder out, and ended up back on top. I…'” — Ariel Helwani, UFC Journalist
“That boy was like a soap bar but good boxing, sorry for all the parlays we fooked up.” — Kevin Holland, UFC Fighter
“He said I was slippery and I was hard to grab, but that’s sweat, bro.” — Daniel Rodriguez, UFC Fighter
“I’m assuming [he thought I was greasing], but there weren’t too many grappling exchanges, other than in the 3rd round when he went for the choke, but he didn’t even have it at the right angle. I was able to just turn my body, get my shoulder out, and ended up back on top.” — Daniel Rodriguez, UFC Fighter
“I think that’s what might be what he’s referring to, but like I said, I was just sweating.” — Daniel Rodriguez, UFC Fighter
“One thing I did do, though, as kind of a strategy, was I shaved my head. My head was freshly shaved. I knew if he tried to get me in the d’arce, I’d slip my head out real slick.” — Daniel Rodriguez, UFC Fighter