'So many fights I don't remember' - Kevin Holland

By Daily Sports Nigeria on May 30, 2025

UFC veteran Kevin Holland is once again preparing to return to the octagon as he faces Vicente Luque on 7 June.

Fighting out of Texas, Holland is known for his short turnarounds and his fight in New Jersey is no different.

Luque will be Holland's 21st fight for the UFC since 2020, making him the company's most active competitor during this period.

Having made his UFC debut in 2018 - a decision loss against Thiago Santos - Holland catapulted to fame in 2020 because of his activity.

Despite limited events because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Holland managed five fights throughout 2020 - winning all five and equalling the record for most UFC wins in a calendar year.

For some fighters, five bouts in a year simply isn't possible - but for 'The Trailblazer', this is nothing new.

"My whole career I've always been pretty active. You're an athlete, you can't be an athlete for 40 years, you can only be it for so long. So take advantage and wish for the best," he told BBC Sport.

Holland's next fight will be his 41st professional bout in 10 years - on three occasions he has competed five or more times in a single year.

"Between super matches in jiu jitsu, Muay Thai, MMA, I'd fight seven to eight times a year. I've always fought a lot, never really sit on my butt too much," he added.

"I've had so many fights I don't remember none of them."

Luque will be Holland's third UFC fight of 2025, most recently defeating Icelandic legend Gunnar Nelson in March.

Before that, Holland suffered a disappointing first-round loss to Reinier de Ridder in January - just three months after he was pulled from a fight after suffering from a broken rib.

"I fought against De Ridder probably a little faster then I should've done. At the end of the day, you only learn from being in there. Experience is the best teacher and I tend to get quite a bit of experience," he said.

"As soon as I was healthy to go it's straight back in the gym. It's simple, I like to stay in there and stay active.

"I don't really need much time in between fights, two days is typically all a man needs."

His constant fighting isn't the only reason for fame inside the UFC - his antics inside the cage have also won him a number of fans.

Notorious for speaking to his opponents while fighting, Holland most famously asked UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov for "wrestling advice" during an encounter with Derek Brunson in 2021.

But as he sits loading up his gaming console while sat in his Texas home, Holland admitted his history of talking inside the cage isn't just for entertainment purposes.

"My brain goes a lot of places. You ever heard of ADHD and stuff like that? It's not that fighting is boring, it's a fun sport, but there's a lot of things going through my brain at one time," he said.

"I'm talking to you, I'm still loading up on the game, I'm always doing 300 things at one time. I'm not good at focusing on one thing for too long."

With Luque ranked 14th in the welterweight division, a win for Holland would likely bring him back into the top 15 of the rankings.

Having gone through a tough run of form, this could come as a huge boost for Holland's future inside the company.

But when asked for advice, Holland admitted he doesn't look too far into the future.

"I'm just focused on one thing only, and that's the fight coming up," he said.

"Treat MMA like a real job. Respect and appreciate it, listen to your coaches, and put the grind in.

"Don't listen to the critics, listen to the coaches."

Source BBC Sports

Posted May 30, 2025


 

You may also like...
CHAN 2018: Ikhana hopeful on Home Eagles

Giant Killer Djokovic Goes For Another Record In...

PSG Told To Bench Mbappe 'All Year' If...

Saka left out of England squad to face...

Gattuso Loses First Match In Charge Of Napoli...

Portland Classic: Lewis donates winnings to Houston flood...

 

Latest News King Mohammed VI Commends Atlas Lionesses for Historic WAFCON 2024 Performance HRH Eze Christian Nwokedi Preaches Patriotism and Leadership Qualities To Reset Nigeria * As he Tumps up Super Falcon's resilience. Lagos SWAN Appoints SWANECO As Buildup To Election Begins Esther Okoronkwo: Canadian club hails Super Falcons star who stepped up when it mattered in WAFCON final Super Falcons Over Ran Morocco In Grudge Comeback Game Confirming Mission X Isak situation has to be right for Newcastle - Howe Hojlund's fight to answer Man Utd's striker question Inter to make €45m Lookman offer next week Man Utd won't sell players on the cheap - Amorim Players fear consequences of speaking out - Fifpro Messi ‘very upset’ after MLS suspension for All-Star no-show WAFCON 2024 Finale: The Grudge Game Of Wits, Brawns Ensues As Hosts Morocco Dares Nigeria

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,598 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,769 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,768 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,363 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,361 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,346 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,161 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,710 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,809 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,428 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,861 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,292 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media