Kevin Holland wants to fight slap-for-slap against one of the most notorious open-hand strikers in the history of MMA.
Following an unelaborated confrontation between the two, it appears that Kevin Holland wants to clash with Nick Diaz in 2022. In a text to UFC boss Dana White, Holland said, “I been wanting to slap the slap man since I was on [the] Contender Series.” Holland went further, saying, “We had a little run in. I think it’s a fight the fans will want the commentators to just shut up and listen to the punches landing and our mouths flapping.”
So, why has Kevin Holland called out Nick Diaz?
Holland didn’t elaborate any further on what this supposed altercation involved with Diaz (26-10 MMA, 13-7 UFC), but Holland’s manager Oren Hodak, of KO Reps, told MMA Junkie that Holland would be equally happy to fight Diaz at either his new home of welterweight or going back up to middleweight. Conveniently, neither Holland nor Diaz are officially booked for matches right now.
Whilst Chael Sonnen made waves in announcing that Holland and Nate Diaz was something that the promotion was working on, sources indicated to MMA Junkie that nothing is set in stone yet. Kevin Holland recently announced a drop to welterweight, as he heals up from injuries that caused him to drop out of a rematch against Kyle Daukaus.
Meanwhile, Nick Diaz’s future remains highly uncertain. The long-time fan favourite fighter lost to former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler via third round TKO at UFC 266 in September. Those who remember will recall that that fight actually took place at middleweight, 15 pounds heavier than its initially agreed to weight of 170 pounds.