Ultimate Fighting Championship tweener Kevin
Holland is opting to move back down to the weight he claims
will make him more disciplined.
Per an initial report by social media user realkevink
on Tuesday, Holland’s (26-13, 1 NC) relocation to 170 pounds will
have him squaring off against jiu-jitsu ace Gunnar
Nelson (19-5-1) at
UFC London. The two will battle it out at the O2 Arena in
London on March 22, with confirmation of the pairing coming on
Thursday from
multiple outlets. Per those outlets, the fighters have verbally
agreed but the contracts have not been signed.
Holland competed four times in 2024, winning just once after
getting dropped by Michal
Oleksiejczuk and snaring a limb-snapping armbar. A decision
loss to Michael
Page, a corner stoppage defeat against Roman
Dolidze and a quick rear-naked choke setback to Reinier
de Ridder put the Texan’s back against the wall. As a pro,
“Trailblazer” still presents a dangerous finish rate of 85%, with
each of his last seven wins coming inside the distance.
This will be Nelson’s first walk to the cage in over two years, as
he last competed at UFC 286 in March 2023. The Iceland-based
athlete has only set foot in the Octagon twice since the Pandemic,
albeit in wins against Takashi
Sato and Bryan
Barberena. A member of the roster since 2012, Nelson has fought
just 15 times, celebrating victories over names like Omari
Akhmedov, Alan Jouban
and Alex
Oliveira along the way. In comparison, Holland debuted in the
UFC in 2018 and has 24 appearances under his belt.
UFC London goes down inside of the O2 Arena in London on March 22,
with welterweights taking center stage as well as former champ
Leon
Edwards comes to blows with Jack
Della Maddalena. The co-main attraction comes at 205 pounds as
former beltholder Jan
Blachowicz throws down with rising contender Carlos
Ulberg. Other key pairings on the billing include Molly
McCann vs. Istela
Nunes at strawweight and Nathaniel
Wood against Morgan
Charriere in a featherweight contest.