Entering 2020, beyond the hardcore MMA fan base, not many people knew who Kevin Holland was.
That changed when the charismatic 28-year-old took the combat sports world by storm, winning all five of his 2020 fights in the last seven months of the calendar year with four of those victories coming via stoppage, highlighted by a first-round knockout of former top middleweight contender Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza at UFC 256.
Holland (21-5) talked with DAZN News earlier this week about main-eventing his first UFC show, his harsh feelings on Brunson's stature in the division and why he wants to venture down to welterweight.
(Editor's note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.)
DAZN News: Did you feel like when you started 2020 heading into that first fight in May, that less than a year later, you'd be headlining shows?
Kevin Holland: No, not at all. I thought within a year if I wouldn't get my shit together, then they would kick me out of the organization. But I got myself together, so I'm in that thing.
DN: Do you feel like if you wouldn't have taken those five fights in the last seven months of 2020 that you'd be in the position that you are in right now?
KH: No. Hard work pays off. I'm a hard worker. I think if I didn't take all these fights, I would not be in this position. If I took half those fights, I wouldn't be in this position, and you guys would still be running around talking about Khamzat [Chimaev].
DN: The one thing that I feel like when I watch you doing interviews or fighting in the cage is that you separate yourself from many other fighters because you put yourself out there and are willing to let the world see that for better for worse. Why do you think we don't see enough fighters doing that because if you don't you don't do that, it's more than likely it's going to take you longer to be in the position you're currently in?
KH: A lot of guys marry a girl instead of marrying their job. I married my job. I'm married to the game. So for better or worse, you can see me for whoever I am, and I accept that. So I think that's a big difference. A lot of these guys don't know whether they like guys or girls. I know. I love women. I know I love to fight. So I'm out here loving my women and the fight game.
DN: The "Jacare" win was the biggest one of your career. It was a very dominant performance. Now you get in this fight. You and Derek have been chirping at each other a little bit. This is the fight you wanted after your last fight, and now you got it. He's always been viewed as a middleweight contender, but a guy that's never been able to crack through into the top five and then to that upper echelon at 185. Is that how you view Derek Brunson at this stage?
KH: Definitely. He's the gatekeeper. Have you ever met somebody who owns the gates? They only hold them tight, and he does a very good job. He's a good gatekeeper. He'll never be a titleholder in the UFC. Maybe in Bellator.
DN: What do you think a win over him does for you?
KH: He's number seven right now. I don't think they want to take him out of the top 10 because he's a top 10 gatekeeper. I'm number 10. So I beat him, he's ten, and I'm seven, and then we'll just see who's next. I'll probably go down a weight class. If I don't feel like doing that, if I don't feel like I'll put in all that work right away, I'll just go fight Jack Hermanson. It's close to the same fight. Jack has better submissions but worse takedowns. So it's cool either way.
DN: Why do you want to go down to 170?
KH: Because I can. I do what I want to do when I can. I can do it, so why not? I never wanted to do it if the money wasn't worth it. Now the money is worth it. For the longest time, I've been just doing this as a fighter. I haven't been doing it as a professional athlete. Now they pay me enough money to where I can be a professional athlete. It's the professional athlete thing to do and be disciplined and go down to 170 pounds. Plus, who's going to take my right-hand smack at 170 pounds?
DN: Do you feel like it would be quicker for you to the title at 185 or 170?
KH: If I go to 170, I'll fight for the title next. They (UFC) might even scratch Jorge Masvidal's fight and put me in there. At 185, I got to deal with the freaking vacated belt. Israel will probably get the belt back and then deal with him talking about how he doesn't want to fight this fight because there's not enough clout before the 1,000 excuses when it comes to my name. Probably 170 is the easiest route.
DN: Which is a bigger fight for you: Israel Adesanya, Kamaru Usman, or Jorge Masvidal?
KH: Jorge Masvidal is the bigger fight than both those guys. The Israel fight would have been the biggest fight, but he just lost, so that mystique is gone. Usman, he's a freaking fantastic fighter, but the "Woe is me" thing is boring even though he's knocking people out with jabs. Then Jorge Masvidal, he's the BMF champion. He has the only belt I actually want. That makes more sense.
DN: The UFC announced UFC 261 would be in front of fans. Does it disappoint you at all that you're not going to be able to fight in front of fans on Saturday?
KH: Not at all. Enjoy it one last time for the last time was the last time.