Kevin Holland once won five UFC fights in seven months, taking out a future contender along the way.
A UFC veteran who bounces between weight classes, Holland is one of the most active fighters in MMA today with 25 appearances in the Octagon since his debut in 2018.
Kevin Holland has fought everybody the UFC’s put in front of him, from current welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena (who he went to a split decision with in 2023) to undefeated title challenger Khamzat Chimaev on a day’s notice at UFC 279.
‘Trailblazer’ truly lived up to his nickname in 2020 when the fighter went on the best win streak of his career in the UFC middleweight division.
- READ MORE: Dana White gives huge update on whether Conor McGregor will fight in the UFC anytime soon
Kevin Holland quickly dismantled #9 contender Anthony Hernandez to kick off banner year in the UFC
Five years ago today, Holland was matched up with Anthony ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez at a crowdless UFC Fight Night event in 2020.
Hernandez is currently the #9-ranked middleweight contender on a seven-fight win streak. He hasn’t lost since crossing paths with Holland.
Holland started the fight off super aggressively by tagging Hernandez with strikes in the opening seconds.
Within 30 seconds, Holland hit Hernandez with an elbow from up close and followed it up with a nasty knee to the body which folded Hernandez.
Hernandez dropped to the ground and Holland landed more punches for the TKO stoppage.
Kevin Holland won his next four fights in a span of 4 months
Holland’s TKO victory over Hernandez came in May 2020 and in August he fought against Joaquin Buckley before Buckley became a top welterweight contender.
Holland talked trash as he knocked out Buckley in the third round of their middleweight bout.
The American went on to defeat Darren Stewart, Darren Till’s latest boxing opponent, Charlie Ontiveros and last but certainly not least Jacare Souza to close out the year in December.
Souza was a scary submission artist who had gone the distance with middleweight destroyer Yoel Romero. It’d take Holland less than two minutes to KO the perennial contender from his knees—all while talking to him.
Unfortunately, Kevin Holland would lose all of his 2020 momentum in back-to-back fights against Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori where he was outwrestled for ten rounds.
Holland has exchanged wins and losses in recent years but no matter the result, there’s no denying the Texan is one of the most game fighters on the UFC roster.