Kevin Holland: Blazing Trails and Telling You About It (Patreon)

By Carrion Toole (@powertooles)

A popular prediction among avid MMA fans back in the early 2010s was that a new wave of prospects would come to dominate the sport. This new wave wouldn't comprise of former kickboxing champions who had spent time on their grappling game, or the Olympic-level wrestlers turned boxers. Instead, the forecasters divined that there would be a wave of young kids who had spent the better part of their childhood and teen years training primarily in MMA. The Rory MacDonalds, Paul Felders, and Nate Diazs of the world were supposed to be just the beginning, but for the most part, that wave never really came. While there are plenty of young up-and-comers who have been training in this sport since they were in grade school, they have not dominated their weight classes or stood out amongst their competition. Kevin Holland, however, is living up to the "MMA kid" archetype.

Holland burst onto the UFC as a last-minute opponent for feared powerhouse Thiago Santos. While most fans expected Holland to be quickly and thoroughly mauled, he put on a very entertaining performance on his way to a decision loss.

Holland scrambled from underneath Santos, attempting submissions, throwing elbows and hammer fists from the bottom, all the while talking to his opponent. Specifically, asking Santos why he had to hit him so hard. His unwillingness to settle in any position matched his unwillingness to be quiet. This performance by Holland gained him many new fans and a full-time spot on the UFC roster.

(Kevin Holland uses the cage to gain leverage for an escape from Santos's mount.)

(Holland uses a kimura grip and butterfly hook to sweep Santos into side control before letting loose with elbows.)

Holland has been training in BJJ and MMA since he was 16 and dominates his opponents with a combination of submission skills, escapes, and a willingness to scramble through bad positions to find a way back to his feet. Back standing, Holland has unconventional yet effective striking.

Holland does most of his work behind a steady jab (and an 80-inch reach): firing off rear straights, the occasional kick to the body or leg, and folding elbows followed by stepping knees. Holland obscures these textbook strikes with sidekicks to spinning backfist combinations, open-handed slaps, and bicycle knees-turned body kicks. 

(Holland gets his timing on a clean right straight, which drops Buckley at the end of the round.)

(Holland jabs from a southpaw stance before withdrawing his lead leg back into a more side-on orthodox stance to set up a jamming sidekick as Buckley approaches.)

A truly unique part of Holland's skills that have led to his rise in popularity is his way with words. This was not improvisation against Thiago Santos but rather a foundation of Holland's game. From his time as a regional fighter all the way to the present, Holland has been talking—before, during, and after his fights. It's not the stereotypical MMA/pro-wrestling promo; but rather, Holland will troll his opponents: politely asking why they keep taking him down, telling opponents about his dreams, or reassuring opponents while they're losing.

Holland's brand of mouth-running is unique and earnest. Not unlike his tendency to embrace physical chaos in the cage. Holland's words are his weapons. The aforementioned case of bringing up his dreams is the exact scenario that led him to a shocking KO win over the formidable jiu-jitsu legend Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza. Despite all his years of experience, Jacare succumbed to Holland's charm with a chuckle. Holland used that opportunity to leverage his incredibly long frame into a looping strike off his back that dazed Jacare. From there, Holland stood over him and rained down punches for a finish.

This is the real danger of a fighter like Holland: he is both unpredictable and an opportunist. Holland is not looking to have a masterful, technically-brilliant striking match, nor is he trying to put on a Mundial grappling performance. He's looking to drag you into his world of improvised exchanges and Tasmanian Devil tornado scrambles. And when your plans have gone off the rails, he'll have already found the opening he needed. This is the evolution of the "MMA kid." 

Some might criticize Holland for his chaotic style and undisciplined stance switches. Especially when his best successes come from the flashes of brilliance within wild movements. However, it's this willingness to abandon caution and lean into dynamism that has earned him admiration from new fans—especially from his former detractor turned proud boss Dana White. This familiarity with being in uncomfortable situations allows him to find his opportunities to outclass better opponents.

Now on a 5-fight win streak and finding fame in the COVID-bubble era, Holland is closing in on the top of the middleweight division with a fight against seventh-ranked Derek Brunson. Brunson is a 9-year veteran of the UFC and should make for the perfect foil to test how Holland's abilities fare against the division's top. Will Holland continue his reign over chaotic exchanges and phrenetic scrambles, or will the division's elite fighters lead Holland to crash and burn? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain: Holland will have a lot to say about it.