Should the promotion look to keep him at middleweight post-UFC 302, Kevin Holland has a matchup in mind.
Holland made the most of a short-notice opportunity on this past weekend’s pay-per-view main card, bouncing back from consecutive defeats to Jack Della Maddalena and Michael “Venom” Page.
In his return to 185 pounds, “Trailblazer” made quick work of Michał Oleksiejczuk. After being dropped early, Holland was quick to lock his Polish opponent into a gruesome armbar.
When “Hussar” didn’t tap, the 31-year-old Texan appeared to either break or dislocate his arm, forcing referee Herb Dean’s intervention for the technical submission.
Given his ambidexterity when it comes to weight classes, Holland is open to making the walk at either welterweight or middleweight next time out. If the UFC favors the latter, though, “Big Mouth” would like to revisit a matchup…
Holland Wants To Test Improved Wrestling In Vettori Rematch
During a backstage interview with Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter at Newark’s Prudential Center, Holland outlined his intentions to make a quick turnaround and highlighted opponent options at both 170 and 185 pounds.
After offering to “whoop” Joaquin Buckley again at welterweight, “Trailblazer” pointed to another potential rematch, this time against someone who got the better of him first time around.
“At ’85, there’s probably a lot of guys I’d like to fight. I’d like a Marvin Vettori rematch if I’m gonna stay at ’85,” Holland said. “I don’t know what he did his last fight. I think I’ve got my wrestling takedown defense a little bit better. You know, I finished him (Oleksiejczuk) off my back. My jiu-jitsu just got better. I don’t know, I just wanna fight.”
1-on-1 with Kevin Holland following his first round submission win pic.twitter.com/1Cv0o5Ma64
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) June 2, 2024
Holland and Vettori shared the cage in a UFC Fight Night main event at the Apex in 2021. In a short-notice contest that came just days on from his headline loss to Derek Brunson, “Big Mouth” was outgrappled en route to a lopsided decision loss.
Having worked on his takedown defense and ground game in the years since, Holland evidently wants a go at avenging that result down the line.
Vettori’s current status is unclear. The Italian was set for a main event against Brendan Allen this past April but withdrew through injury after a “freak accident.” It remains to be seen when he’ll be able to compete again, and whether it would fit in with Holland’s plan for a quick return post-UFC 302.
