UFC welterweight Kevin Holland is looking forward to his next fight. It’s a surprising about-face for a fighter who was threatening retirement very recently, but with a matchup against a fellow striker and elite welterweight in Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson around the corner, Holland told told reporters backstage at UFC 281 that he anticipates a “very, very fun matchup”.
““It’s not really a stand-and-bang (fight), it’s a real technical standup fight, and you have to implement certain things to get to ‘Wonderboy’ and have your way with ‘Wonderboy.’
Kevin Holland Looks Forward to “Very, Very Fun Matchup” vs Wonderboy
I plan on implementing those things, and I plan on showing that I can strike with the best of them. Its’s just a very, very fun matchup. Talk about a guy that’s fought for a world title, that’s fought some of the best out there at the top of the weight class for a long time. If you do want a number next to your name, you have to go through somebody like that.”
Stephen Thompson, despite his significant striking ability, has fared poorly in his last two Octagon outings. Thompson is currently riding a two-fight losing streak, with the 39-year-old fighter crumbling before Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad. In both instances, Thompson’s opponents imposed a brutal, dominant grappling gameplan. Kevin Holland, too, has endured hardship against wrestlers of late.
Holland was supposed to face Daniel Rodriguez at UFC 279, but instead found himself opposite Khamzat Chimaev. Chimaev, riding a serious hype train, and undefeated in his MMA career, easily dispatched Holland with his own submission-seeking suffocating wrestling.
It’s safe to say that both Kevin Holland and Stephen Thompson are looking forward to facing a fellow striker rather than another elite grappler. Although Thompson remains one of the finest strikers in the division, Kevin Holland looks forward to being “creative” inside the Octagon and bringing the fight to “Wonderboy”.
“He’s lost to people who’ve decided to grapple the whole time. People who decide to strike with him usually don’t have a good night, unless you’re Anthony Pettis. I think I’m just as creative as Anthony, even though he’s shown a lot of creativity inside that octagon, that cage. But yeah, against ‘Wonderboy’ there’s only one way to go, and that’s forward.”
Presumably, Kevin Holland plans on staying active following the Wonderboy fight, particularly if he can return to winning ways. Are you looking forward to Holland vs Thompson? Let us know in the comments.
