Kevin Holland

Kevin Alan Holland (born November 5, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Middleweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2015, Holland has also competed for Bellator MMA, King of the Cage and Legacy Fighting Alliance. As of December 20, 2021, he is #14 in the UFC middleweight rankings.

Background

Holland was born in Riverside, California and raised mostly by his grandparents in Rancho Cucamonga and Ontario. His mother has been in and out of jail, meanwhile his father has been incarcerated throughout Holland's life. Holland attended Los Osos High School and Chaffey College. Holland started martial arts training when he was 16 years old and was a fan of Georges St-Pierre. He fell in love with the UFC after watching UFC 100, the first time he'd watched the UFC, when he was visiting his father in Philadelphia.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

After compiling an amateur record of 5–0, Holland started his professional MMA in 2015. He fought under various promotions such as Xtreme Knockout, Legacy Fighting Championship, King of the Cage, Bellator MMA, Legacy Fighting Alliance and amassed a record of 12–3 prior to his signing by UFC.

Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series

Holland appeared in Dana White's Contender Series 9. He faced Will Santiago and won the fight via unanimous decision on June 12, 2018. Even with the win, Holland was not offered a contract on show but he was brought in to face Thiago Santos at UFC 227.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

2018

Holland made his UFC debut on August 4, 2018 against Thiago Santos at UFC 227 He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

His next fight came on November 24, 2018 at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2 against John Phillips. He won the fight via a submission due to a rear-naked choke in round three.

2019

Holland faced Gerald Meerschaert on March 30, 2019 at UFC on ESPN 2. He won the fight via split decision.

Holland faced Alessio Di Chirico on June 22, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 154. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Holland was expected to face promotional newcomer Antônio Arroyo on November 16, 2019 at UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Jacaré. However, in late September, promotion officials elected to remove Holland from the bout in favor of a matchup against Brendan Allen on October 18, 2019 at UFC on ESPN 6. He lost the fight via submission in round two.

2020

Holland was expected to face Jack Marshman on March 21, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Edwards. However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed. Instead, Holland faced Anthony Hernandez on May 16, 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris. He won the bout via a first round technical knockout.

Holland was scheduled to face Daniel Rodriguez on May 30, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Burns. However, On May 26, Holland was forced to withdraw from his scheduled bout with Rodriguez due to an injury and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Gabriel Green.

Holland was expected to face Trevin Giles on August 1, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan. In turn, Trevin Giles fainted just prior to his walkout and the fight was cancelled.

Holland faced promotional newcomer Joaquin Buckley on August 8, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 174. He won the fight via technical knockout in round three. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Holland faced Darren Stewart on September 19, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 178. He won the fight via split decision.

Holland was scheduled to face Makhmud Muradov, replacing injured Krzysztof Jotko, on October 31, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 181. In turn, Muradov was removed from the fight due to tested positive for COVID-19 and Muradov was replaced by promotional newcomer Charlie Ontiveros. Holland won the fight in the first round when Ontiveros verbally submitted after suffering a neck injury due to a slam. This win earned him Performance Fight of the Night award.

Holland was scheduled to face Jack Hermansson at UFC on ESPN 19 on December 5, replacing an injured Darren Till. However, on November 28, it was announced that Holland was pulled from the bout due to testing positive for COVID-19.

Holland faced Ronaldo Souza on December 12, 2020 at UFC 256. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. This fight marks the record for the most UFC wins in 2020 (5). This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.

2021

Holland faced Derek Brunson on March 20, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 21. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Holland faced Marvin Vettori, replacing an injured Darren Till, on April 10, 2021 at UFC on ABC 2. With his second main event in three weeks, Holland tied the record for shortest turnaround between two main events. Though he managed to hurt Vettori with punches a few times, Holland was dominated on the ground for the majority of the fight and lost by unanimous decision. Subsequently – with one fight left on his prevailing contract – Holland signed a new, multi-fight deal with the UFC.

Holland faced Kyle Daukaus on October 2, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 193. Early in the bout a clash of heads occurred, resulting in Holland briefly being knocked unconscious. Though he continued to fight, Holland would be submitted via rear-naked choke moments later. Referee Dan Miragliotta reviewed the footage via replay and it was deemed the head clash led to the sequence of events resulting in Daukaus' win. Therefore, the fight was declared a no contest after the accidental head clash.

A rematch with Daukaus was scheduled on November 13, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 197. However, Holland withdrew from the bout due to injury.

2022

Holland is scheduled to return to the Welterweight division for the first time since October 2017 to face Alex Oliveira at UFC 272 on March 5.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Performance of the Night (Three times) vs Joaquin Buckley, Charlie Ontiveros, and Ronaldo Souza

Tied for Most wins in a calendar year in UFC history (5) tied with Roger Huerta, Neil Magny

Most wins in a calendar year (5) in Middleweight division

Most bouts in a 12-month period in UFC history (7) from May 2020 to April 2021

Xtreme Knockout

XKO Welterweight Championship

XKO Middleweight Championship

One successful title defense

BT Sport

2020 Male fighter of the year.

Cageside Press

2020 Male Fighter of the Year.

MMAjunkie.com

2020 December Knockout of the Month vs. Ronaldo Souza

2020 Breakout Fighter of the Year

2020 Male Fighter of the Year

MMA Weekly

2020 Breakout Fighter of the Year

The Athletic

2020 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year

Sherdog

2020 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year

Amateur titles

Premiere Combat Group

PCG Vacant Welterweight Championship

Belts of Honorious

BOH Welterweight Championship