Exciting UFC fighter Kevin Holland makes his return to the octagon as part of UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs Emmett, and the former 185-pound fighter revealed the strict dieting he has had to stick to in order to compete in the Welterweight division of the promotion.
Holland is set to enter the octagon for his second fight at the 170-pound weight limit, taking on Tim Means as part of the main card.
‘Trailblazer’ enters the fight as the favourite to win, and he is hoping to cement his status further in the extremely competitive Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championships.
Here is what Kevin Holland had to say ahead of his Welterweight return to the UFC octagon against Tim Means as part of UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs Emmett.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 05: Kevin Holland (R) embraces Alex Oliveira of Brazil after his TKO victory in their catchweight fight during UFC 272 at T-Mobile Arena on March 05, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
Kevin Holland on Welterweight return
Speaking to ESPN ahead of UFC Fight Night, Holland discussed the transition from Middleweight to Welterweight.
He said: “Actually the transition's been really smooth. Charles with the UFCPI does a really really good job of making sure that I'm on weight and that the process is really smooth.
“I never knew that I'd be good at following schedule so well [laughs]. So I followed the schedule way better than I thought I ever would [laughs].
“It actually works out better. I come in at these fights heavier than I do at 85, so it's kind of magnificent.”
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 05: Kevin Holland punches Alex Oliveira of Brazil in their catchweight fight during UFC 272 at T-Mobile Arena on March 05, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
Kevin Holland talks strict diet regime
‘Trailblazer’ would also reveal to ESPN that the move to Welterweight has meant that he has had to be stricter with his diet.
“I feel a little more clean and crisp, you know what I mean? Even my coaches were saying that my striking is starting to look a little better [at Welterweight]. I was wondering if was gonna look better again and then they said the grappling's looking good, so everything's looking better.
“I'm just looking a lot more technical than I usually do. I think that's because you gotta eat clean, you work out more, you do all the things that you normally wouldn't have to do at 85 you know?
“I had started doing strength conditioning a little bit at 85 so I can keep up with the big boys, but I was still eating burgers and drinking tequila two weeks before the fight! I really wouldn't get on the diet until fight week before [for 185-pound contests].
“At 70, I got to stay on the diet, so it just makes things a little smoother you know?”
Check out the full interview with Kevin Holland ahead of UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs Emmett below:
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