When Kevin Holland first appeared on Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC CEO was far from impressed—so much so, he nearly passed on signing the outspoken fighter. But fate had other plans for the ‘Trailblazer.’ Now boasting 15 wins and 10 losses inside the Octagon, Holland has become one of the UFC’s most entertaining stars. His recent win over Vicente Luque only skyrocketed his stock—and with Donald Trump cage-side, some fans are calling the former president his lucky charm.

Ahead of UFC 316, the MMA community was skeptical about Holland’s performance against Vicente Luque, but the Riverside, California, native certainly proved his worth within the Octagon as his clinical performance took Luque to the pain zone. After landing heavy punches—even while hopping on one leg following a caught kick—Holland rocked Luque with a sharp elbow in the first round.

That elbow forced Luque to back off a little as he showed resilience, but it was not enough. The tide was completely in favor of Holland. Early in the second round, ‘Trailblazer’ caught Luque off guard as he locked in a tight D’Arce choke, forcing Luque to tap and sealing an impressive finish. The victory was a much-needed one for Holland, who seemed to be having a crisis in his career.

After choking out Luque, Holland jumped over the cage and celebrated his victory with Dana White and former President Donald Trump. From being disregarded by the UFC CEO to becoming one of the stars of the promotion, Kevin Holland has come a long way.

Interestingly, ahead of his battle with Vicente Luque, Kevin Holland stated what he has planned for his future—and it’s just as exciting as his submission victory at UFC 316. Let’s take a look at it.

Kevin Holland plans to break his own record

Back in 2020, Kevin Holland made history when he matched the UFC record for the most fights in a single calendar year, five bouts, all victories. It was a statement from him about his dominance in the game. Well, this year, the fighter is not only looking to match it but also break that barrier as well. Already stepping into the Octagon thrice, Holland is looking to make sure he fights three more times this year.

“By year’s end, I’m locked in to hit five or six fights, no doubt,” Holland declared at UFC 316 media day. “Three fights down already—adding two more is a breeze, but ideally, I want to push for three more. It means a crazy, packed schedule, but hey, that’s how you make a statement. Next year might be slower, but this year? I’m all in.”

With his fast victory over Vicente Luque, Kevin Holland will likely be looking to make a comeback around September. Given that, what are your thoughts on the fight? Share your opinions in the comments below.

Top Stories

Ilia Topuria’s UFC Title at Risk After Personal Break Turns Worse With “Extortion” Claim

UFC Vegas 112 Fighter Carried Out of Octagon After KO Loss Leaves Her Unable to Walk

Daniel Cormier Takes Sly Dig at FOX While Reflecting on UFC’s ESPN Exit

Dana White Set to Lose Another Star to Boxing as UFC Champ Reveals Major Career Decision

Alistair Overeem Urges Rampage Jackson to Reconsider Major Career Move Amid Health Concerns