LAS VEGAS – Kevin Holland is within the thick of his first weight reduce all the way down to the UFC welterweight division, and he mentioned every thing to this point goes in accordance with plan forward of UFC 272.
After spending all of his octagon appearances to this point within the middleweight division, Holland (21-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) lastly determined to tug the set off on a long-discussed dropdown. He’ll have his introduction to the division on Saturday when he meets Alex Oliveira (21-11-1 MMA, 11-9 UFC) on the pay-per-view fundamental card at T-Cellular Enviornment.
Holland had combined outcomes at 185 kilos, however admits there have been some downsides to combating in that division. He’s been compelled to hone in his coaching, focus, and eating regimen to get all the way down to 170 kilos, and he can see the positives of that call even earlier than stepping within the octagon.
“I do really feel just a little quicker,” Holland informed reporters, together with MMA Junkie, at Wednesday’s UFC 272 media day. “It’s like automobile. If you happen to obtained automobile you must put good oil in there, good gasoline in there, and so forth and so forth. I really feel like I’m placing the good things within the automobile. I really feel just like the automobile will carry out so much higher.”
After occurring a run of 5 consecutive wins that earned him MMA Junkie’s 2020 Fighter of the Year honors, Holland has now gone three consecutive fights with out getting his hand raised. He’ll get an opportunity to vary his fortunes at UFC 272 when he takes on wily veteran Oliveira.
Holland thinks Oliveira has a mode that might make for a possible Battle of the Night time, however he mentioned he’s not anticipating the motion to go one specific means. Finally, Holland mentioned he’ll be ready for all of it.
“I feel he’s an OG,” Holland. “I feel he’s a legend. I’m very, very completely happy to be combating him. I used to be motivated, I knew I needed to proceed to work on the grappling trigger that’s what everybody expects to be my downfall. However I additionally know he’s striker.”
