5 fights that could be next for Kevin Holland

#2. Jorge Masvidal

A matchup between Kevin Holland and Jorge Masvidal might seem unlikely at first, but it is more realistic now than it has ever been.

At the moment, neither fighter is anywhere close to the elite in their division. 'Trailblazer' has only recently returned to the welterweight division and must prove himself against a new crop of fighters in the top 15. 'Gamebred', on the other hand, has not won a fight since 2019.

His last victory came against Nate Diaz, who has also not won a fight since 2019 as well. Instead, Masvidal suffered back-to-back losses to Kamaru Usman before dropping a lopsided decision against former friend Colby Covington.

The losses have removed the shine from the BMF title holder, with fighters ranked as low Michel Pereira calling for a bout with him. This likely reflects Masvidal's current standing in the division. Furthermore, there is a potential narrative that the UFC can build around a matchup between Kevin Holland and 'Gamebred'.

Holland has attracted considerable attention for his heroics outside the octagon, while Masvidal has garnered criticism for his criminal assault on Colby Covington. The UFC has never been above using a fighter's real-life legal issues to promote a bout. It would be wise to try and extract as much value from Masvidal as they still can by having him potentially give the rub to Holland in a matchup that can easily be a PPV co-main event.

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#1. Nate Diaz

Kevin Holland recently expressed an interest in facing both Nate and Nick Diaz. Both Stockton natives have only one fight left on their respective UFC contracts, with the younger Diaz brother showcasing an eagerness to pursue other ventures like boxing Jake Paul.

While the UFC's initial plan to have Nate Diaz lock horns with Khamzat Chimaev fell through the cracks, a bout with Kevin Holland is one that is far more likely to entice him.

The former lightweight has historically shown his disdain for wrestlers, culminating in his well-known disinterest in facing opponents who are likely to actively pursue takedowns against him.

'Trailblazer' is no such fighter. He would engage Diaz in a standup war while answering every single one of his verbal taunts in kind. The bout would be the exciting exit that the former lightweight contender deserves from the UFC, while transferring his star power to Kevin Holland in the event of a likely win for the latter.