Kevin Holland is not only looking to end a two-fight losing streak tomorrow night (Sat., Oct. 2, 2021) when he meets Kyle Daukaus at UFC Vegas 38 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, but “Trailblazer” is hoping to show vast improvements in his game.
While Holland is known for his wild striking and high-finish rate the middleweight contender has been outmatched on the mat over his last two contests. Holland had won five-straight before running into the likes of Marvin Vettori and Derek Brunson, who utilized takedowns in bunches to subdue “Trailblazer.”
Holland made it a point to work on his wrestling over the past five months to give himself the best opportunity to climb the 185-pound ranks.
“Me, personally, I thought I was good at wrestling before I got outwrestled by (Derek) Brunson and (Marvin) Vettori. So, hopefully, it got better,” Holland told reporters earlier this week (h/t Sportskeeda). “I mean, at the end of the day, Dana White told me to go fix some things. So, I mean, if the boss tells you to do something, you do what the boss tells you to do if you want to keep collecting a check, right?”
Holland, 28, remains one of the more promising talents in the middleweight division. If he’s able to fix his wrestling and display that inside of the cage it will only lead to more high—profile matchups for the one they call “Big Mouth.” More matchups will lead to more paychecks, which is what seems to fuel Holland these days.
After all, “Trailblazer” doesn’t want to end up like former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, who he says is “broke as a f—k.”
“So, I mean, I know they’re all gonna say I kissed them booty cheeks after this on the interviews and stuff like that, but I really don’t care. I do what I’m supposed to do, so I can continue to get paid. That way I don’t have to be like Luke Rockhold – retiring and then coming back because I’m broke as a f—k. You know what I mean? So, yeah.”
Luckily, Holland and Rockhold compete in the same weight class so there’s a chance the two meet down the line. Rockhold is expected to make his middleweight return against surging contender Sean Strickland at UFC 268 this November.
As for Holland, he’ll have his hands full with Daukaus in the co-main event this weekend at UFC Vegas 38.
For complete UFC Vegas 38 fight card news click here.