Why UFC Star Kevin Holland Doesn’t Fight at Middleweight Anymore?

By: Udit Pandit Image credit: The US Sun

[{"selector":"#anim-0d057975-48cc-418a-9e62-28fa24e4c44d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(18.261996129039538%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7537fc22-2858-4377-8eec-212f0dea4b82","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-545c48ce-efe2-4c04-9dba-2283124a2a07","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -422.01385%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] With UFC 291 lineup stacked, the promotion is ready to host fights including the great names such as Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Alex Pereira, Tony Ferguson, Kevin Holland and many more.

[{"selector":"#anim-577ec2a0-49c6-4221-ad30-b975a99f1cf6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-22.127077743594484%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b9770dd5-d0c2-40e1-bd0b-861f346fc302","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a6f80520-ec2f-4510-bb81-8acdc02101c5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -422.01385%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] As the opening matchup of the main card, Kevin Holland a formerly ranked middleweight will go against Michael Chiesa for the welterweight bout, who has been pursuing his trade at 170 lbs.

[{"selector":"#anim-17ab0ef7-69b2-4422-9c01-5ca3a87f7af4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-50405bcc-77fb-43c5-b1bb-24cb75c6ca5b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d9c355f-d1e9-4c9c-ba58-e37c5e4e87b6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.02797%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c685adec-ccd7-4f8e-952a-5ccc1df554db [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(19.99003579253183%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Holland has a trailblazing record of five consecutive victories while he was in the middleweight division, also to a point of a potential title shot back in the year 2020.

[{"selector":"#anim-7b23e960-8209-4df5-8aff-935f9db51cb3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-56.8543202654341%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cd3758cf-beed-4531-bab2-9ffe03b80569","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-11b81dc7-4b3e-4c12-9d08-a32dc30fbf64","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05c4ec94-5508-4828-ad5a-5e3839f1ddf2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-120.93023%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Kevin had convincing victories over fighters like Joaquin Buckley, Jacare Souza but was left out of the picture when he was defeated by Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori consecutively.

[{"selector":"#anim-89b20655-04c3-4590-ace3-e9108c3b7bc6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(58.35595682926774%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d6178529-7bf2-40ab-b957-de07059bbf33","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-3d366267-53dc-49ca-9d68-dd64926dfe7e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8506e37b-6d95-45c2-b82f-0843f27139d9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-110.20409%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Despite his losses at middleweight, Holland made a comeback with the drop tp welterweight knocking out Alex Oliviera at UFC 272 and a submission win against Tim Means at UFC Fight Night in June, 2022.

[{"selector":"#anim-37fb7075-79f4-4ce0-8bd8-74e7c4443493 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(60.087574460410956%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0db76ee-d9a4-436f-886f-06e4c76bce39","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-d8bbc968-3473-4af7-9a8f-cedc49d2358f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6f023805-48f4-45ad-b402-369dead1f9cd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.41936%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Kevin stated in an interview with ESPN, he hated cutting weight and would love to make a comeback at 185 lbs, but not in favor of him as his sentiments do not match with promotion's higher-ups.

[{"selector":"#anim-8bc4db23-c348-4cd3-baa0-7abb65d55448","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4dc26e3d-f6b9-4b99-8239-e11d63f1c705","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 63.23179%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-61d59034-31f6-4c7d-a45b-4828b959616a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] "I just think I'm more professional at 170. At 185, I'm trying to take every fight that's on the books. The matchmakers the bosses, they like me in '70." Stated Holland.

[{"selector":"#anim-8b9c3868-284b-4665-afed-386c74eda84b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2463589c-6294-4212-a9da-599426489072","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 70.75866%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b052e92d-54f5-45c2-98e4-3c0b4c16cf91","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a43d1913-3bb5-4b13-a0ff-9ebb5079121b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-55.27602236749761%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Nevertheless, Holland will have to deliver a significant performance in the welterweight division as he goes against Michael Chiesa at UFC 291, to capitalize on an opportunity to welterweight top 15.

Why UFC Star Kevin Holland Doesn’t Fight at Middleweight Anymore?

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