Can Kevin Holland Make a Run at Welterweight?
Everybody knows Kevin Holland. He is a big mouth in the cage, always talking, always entertaining, but there is real skill behind the personality. He has competed at both Welterweight and Middleweight, but it has become obvious that 170 is where he belongs. His recent win streak over Gunnar Nelson and Vicente Luque, two respected staples of the division, proves that. Holland has admitted that he dislikes cutting weight, which is why he often moves up to middleweight; however, every time he does, he sacrifices his size and strength. After dominating Luque, he stated clearly that he is locked in on Welterweight and ready to make a run, even going so far as to call out Colby Covington.
At Middleweight, Kevin Holland went 9-6-1. That is not a bad record, but the majority of his wins came against lower-level competition, while most of his losses came against top-tier opponents. Losses like the one to Reinier de Ridder make it clear that Holland may have already reached its ceiling in that division. At Welterweight, he holds a 6-3 record, which may not seem impressive at first glance, but those three losses came to elite strikers — Stephen Thompson, Michael Page, and the current champion Jack Della Maddalena in a close split decision. In every one of those fights, Holland chose to strike with some of the most dangerous standup fighters in the sport. Had he mixed in his grappling, those fights could have played out very differently. On the flip side, his wins at 170 have come against proven names like Gunnar Nelson, Vicente Luque, and Santiago Ponzinibbio.
Kevin Holland is currently ranked number 14 in the Welterweight Division. The UFC loves him because he brings exciting fights, delivers entertaining moments on the mic, and stays active. He has already fought three times in 2025, showing he is always ready to step in. There are plenty of favorable and fun matchups ahead of him in the rankings, including names like Gilbert Burns, Colby Covington, and Ian Garry. Holland also has a history with fighters such as Stephen Thompson, Geoff Neal, and Joaquin Buckley, and he holds wins over both Neal and Buckley. Any of those matchups would give him a real chance to climb the ladder, and they are all realistic options. If Holland can string together three more big wins, he could find himself riding a five-fight win streak and knocking on the door of a title shot.
Kevin Holland is active, skilled, and in his prime at 32 years old. A run to the top is very possible, and he could find himself in a top-five matchup within the next year. While a title fight may still feel like a long shot, it would not be a shock. He is far more skilled than people give him credit for, and he loves to fight. I believe he can and will become a staple in the top ten of the Welterweight Division for years to come. This feels like the prime Kevin Holland we have all been waiting for. Hopefully, we get a fight announcement soon.
