An altercation between Khamzat Chimaev and Kevin Holland sparked a backstage melee that ultimately pre-fight press conference being cancelled.
Kevin Holland : Press conference | Record | Ranking
Kevin Alan Holland (born November 5, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist.
| Kevin Holland | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kevin Alan Holland November 5, 1992 Riverside, California, United States |
| Other names | Trailblazer |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) |
He currently competes in the Welterweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
A professional since 2015, Holland has also competed for Bellator MMA, King of the Cage and Legacy Fighting Alliance.
After compiling an amateur record of 5–0, Holland started his professional MMA in 2015.
He fought under various promotions such as Xtreme Knockout, Legacy Fighting Championship, King of the Cage, Bellator MMA, Legacy Fighting Alliance and amassed a record of 12–3 prior to his signing by UFC.
Press conference
An altercation between Khamzat Chimaev and Kevin Holland sparked a backstage melee that ultimately led to the UFC 279 pre-fight press conference being cancelled on Thursday.
That’s according to UFC President Dana White, who confirmed the initial incident between Chimaev and Holland started the problems that only escalated after he went on stage to start the press conference at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
According to multiple people who witnessed the incident, Chimaev initiated the melee when he kicked Holland backstage. Chimaev’s alleged attack is what then erupted into a much larger issue as security scrambled to get everything under control.
The people who spoke to MMA Fighting about the incident asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
“Yeah [it was Khamzat Chimaev and Kevin Holland that started it],” White told reporters backstage. “There were multiple things going on at the same time. It wasn’t just one thing that erupted and it happened. There were multiple things going on at the same time.”
Kevin Holland record
Holland made his UFC debut on August 4, 2018 against Thiago Santos at UFC 227 He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
| Kickboxing record | |
|---|---|
| Total | 3 |
| Wins | 2 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 31 |
| Wins | 23 |
| By knockout | 13 |
| By submission | 6 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 7 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 5 |
| No contests | 1 |
Holland returned to the Welterweight division for the first time since October 2017 to face Alex Oliveira on March 5, 2022 at UFC 272.
He won the fight via technical knockout in round two. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
- Kevin Holland Record: 23-7-0 (1 NC)
Holland faced Tim Means on June 18, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 37.
He won the fight via D’Arce choke submission in round two. This win earned him his fifth Performance of the Night award.
Holland is scheduled to face Daniel Rodriguez on September 10, 2022, at UFC 279.
Ranking
Holland appeared on Dana White’s Contender Series 9. He faced Will Santiago and won the fight via unanimous decision on June 12, 2018. Even with the win, Holland was not offered a contract on show but he was brought in to face Thiago Santos at UFC 227.
| Ratings and Rankings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Metric | Rating | Ranking | |
| Performance | 96 |
A
|
9 |
| Power | 93 |
A-
|
14 |
| Offensive | 96 |
A
|
9 |
| Defensive | 91 |
A-
|
19 |
Holland faced Gerald Meerschaert on March 30, 2019 at UFC on ESPN 2. He won the fight via split decision.
Holland faced Alessio Di Chirico on June 22, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 154. He won the fight via unanimous decision.