Why Kevin Holland Is the Next Big Thing in the UFC Middleweight Division

Kevin Holland has had a splendid run in 2020 so far. He will look to cap off the year on a high note with a win over perennial top 10 middleweight Jacare Souza. Heading into the fight, Holland has shown that he has both the fighting skills and a persona that will propel him a long way in the 185-pound division.

Holland’s entry into the UFC is a story in itself. The fighter out of Fort Worth showcased his skills on Dana White’s Contender Series. However, despite notching up a win, he couldn’t convince the UFC President, Dana White, into offering him a UFC contract. White had his reasons. He argued that Holland talked so much and so loud that everyone could hear him.

Fast forward to less than two months later and the UFC President found himself searching for opponents who could fight Thiago Santos on two weeks’ notice. Where several other winners from Contender Series declined the offer, Holland stepped up to the occasion.

While many would have a ton of jitters heading into their first UFC fight, and that too the main card opener, Holland maintained his usual calm demeanor. Despite fighting a beast in Thiago Santos, who would later go on to give Jon Jones all sorts of troubles, Holland stuck to the tactics that gave him the unofficial nickname of ‘Big Mouth’.

While he came up short inside the Octagon, he garnered respect from the celebrities at cage side and Dana White as well. The latter knew that he had made an error of judgment by not giving Holland the contract two months ago. However, he made sure that he would give Holland the opportunities that he deserved.

Kevin Holland knows how to use his physical gifts to his advantage

Ranked number 15 in the middleweight division, Holland has a staggering reach of 81 inches. The number is the highest among ranked UFC middleweights. Holland uses his reach to keep his opponents at bay and tries to hurt them from the outside. He has a solid jab and a cross, which he mixes well with his kicks.

Apart from his striking accolades, Holland is a jiu-jitsu black belt and a second-degree black belt in Kung Fu. He never hesitates from taking the fight to the ground where he is a master at scrambling into both favorable and unfavorable positions.

Holland has said that he tries to learn from Georges St-Pierre. Just like St-Pierre was well-rounded both on his feet and on the ground, similarly, he is aiming to become a finisher in both departments.

Holland’s history with Israel Adesanya can pay off dividends in the future

The UFC middleweight division is in a peculiar spot right now. Despite plenty of worthy challengers in the top tiers, there isn’t a single stand out contender that has grabbed the attention of everyone. The best of the challenger’s lot is Robert Whittaker. However, since Adesanya has defeated him once already, he isn’t excited about a rematch.

Perhaps this is the reason Adesanya has decided that he will move up a weight class and challenge Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight belt.

Holland’s rise has been perfect so far in 2020. He ended his last fight in a rather unconventional fashion after his opponent tapped out verbally. However, what made the news more than the submission was his post-fight verbal back-and-forth with middleweight kingpin, Israel Adesanya, who was seated cage side.

Holland and Adesanya have a bit of a history between them that goes back to Holland’s first appearance in the UFC. If Holland’s time in the UFC has shown us anything, it is that he will hold his own against anyone and everyone, regardless of the circumstances.

If he keeps up racking impressive wins one after the other, there are high chances that he captures the attention of Adesanya, which will eventually lead to a title shot. Therefore, Holland’s win this weekend could not just push him ahead in the rankings but also prove that he is the next big thing to look out for in the middleweight division.

Read More: Kevin Holland Perplexed About Israel Adesanya’s Behaviour Towards Him