Kurt Holobaugh, who has struggled to replicate his success outside the UFC, faces Kaynan Kruschewsky at UFC Vegas 94, with Kruschewsky determined to secure a victory after learning from his challenging debut against Elves Brener.
Kurt Holobaugh has an impressive record outside the octagon, winning 19 of 22 fights. But in the UFC, he hasn’t been able to replicate that success.
His opponent at UFC Vegas 94, Kaynan Kruschewsky, isn’t feeling sympathetic. When they face off Saturday night, it’ll be all business.
Kruschewsky, a former Jungle Fight lightweight champion, joined the UFC after submitting Dylan Mantello on Contender Series. However, his debut against Elves Brener last November didn’t go as planned—he took the fight on just four days’ notice.
That experience changed him. Now, he’s determined to hand Holobaugh his sixth loss in seven UFC bouts.
“If he makes a mistake, I’ll squeeze his neck,” Kruschewsky told MMA Fighting. It’s not easy talking about someone else’s losses. "But we’re fighting for a dream here."
He added, “Those who do more cry less.” Harsh words? Maybe. But Kruschewsky is focused: “I’ll make his family cry because he will lose this fight, God willing.”
“I’ve worked so hard for this,” he continued. His family needs this win; he needs this win. There’s nothing else for him—it’s his dream. The win is everything.
Kruschewsky has ended 60 percent of his MMA wins by submission and plans to do the same at UFC Vegas 94. Holobaugh may have only been submitted once in 29 pro fights—but that doesn’t faze him.
“Knockout, submission, or decision—I’m going to war like always,” Kruschewsky said confidently. He’ll adapt to whatever happens that night.
He knows Holobaugh’s strengths and weaknesses well enough: “He doesn’t have good takedown defense but has a good guard." Smart strategy? Avoid fighting there; aim for half guard instead.
“But like two plus two equals four," Kruschewsky asserted confidently, "I’ll catch him if I take him down.”
UFC Vegas 94 also marks Kruschewsky’s debut representing Brazil’s up-and-coming Fighting Nerds team. He called his preparation “the perfect camp,” contrasting it with his rough night at UFC São Paulo—where he had no camp whatsoever.
“This will be my real UFC debut,” Kruschewsky said with conviction. The Brener fight was just a learning experience for him.
Even though he didn’t need to take that fight—he was already under contract with the UFC—he doesn’t regret it. He’s an employee of the UFC and when they call him, he’ll be ready.
But now? It’s going to be a different Kaynan—a more intelligent and calm fighter. They’ll brawl when he wants to brawl.
“I prepared my entire life to be in the UFC but wasn’t ready on such short notice,” he admitted candidly about facing Elves Brener on four days’ notice. Emotions got the better of him then.
When Dana White signed him, White said he’d count on Kaynan for any situation—that stuck with him deeply. When Bruce Buffer started announcing and touched his hand? Adrenaline surged through Kaynan’s veins—he thought he’d kill Brener right then and there!
People might think Kaynan was doing okay during that fight—but emotions dominated him; he couldn’t deliver as expected.
No regrets about taking that fight—but yeah—the outcome? He regrets that part deeply.