CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Kevin Holland has never been one to shy away from letting the public know how he really feels.
So it should come as no surprise when Holland (16-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) was booked to fight Brendan Allen (12-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC on ESPN 6, the trash talk came right away.
As soon as the bout was publicly announced, Allen was the first to take a dig at Holland on Twitter – possibly trying to get ahead of the storm. Holland was more than happy to oblige.
Sure, Holland has chirped all of his opponents to date. But there was something unique about Allen, which Holland hasn’t yet come across in the UFC. The two have history.
That’s why Holland, who was previously scheduled to fight on Nov. 16 at UFC on ESPN+ 22, specifically requested the fight when Allen’s original opponent Eric Spicely withdrew.
“We get to run it back, but instead of downtown Louisiana for a little cup of cola, we get to do it in Boston like a tea party – put a massacre together,” Holland told MMA Junkie. “… I get to come back to the East Coast, same team, and run it back again. If I catch the body this time, I’ll be a happy man and could put the beef we have behind us.”
Holland and Allen were supposed to face off in Summer 2018 on the regional scene, but Dana White’s Contender Series and Bellator opportunities presented themselves. Instead, Holland elected to go with the former and tabled the Allen fight for the future.
“We tried to take all four fights,” Holland said. “By the time it came back around, they had already matched Brendan Allen up with somebody else. He ended up losing and I told my manager, Oren Hodak, ‘Told y’all I’d end up beating him.’ Here we are again, and I get to prove myself right.’”
Despite the history, Holland was surprised the UFC made the fight as requested. He thought Allen, a UFC debutant, would have to work his way up in order for the pairing to be booked. Regardless of how they got there, Holland is happy it’s finally going to happen.
“When we were getting ready for the Contender Series fight, a couple of guys told me he mentioned me in his interviews,” Holland said. “If it’s smoke you want, it’s smoke you will get. I’m Smokey (and) the Bandit. We run it however we can.”
Holland continued with a fight night prediction, “… He’s been finished and it’s nothing against Brendan Allen. Stylistically he chokes and I finish.”
UFC on ESPN 6 takes place Friday at TD Garden in Boston. The card airs on ESPN2.
Kevin Holland details history with Brendan Allen, predicts 'Boston massacre' at UFC on ESPN 6
