Kevin Holland is committed to a busy year in the octagon and will face Daniel Rodriguez in a welterweight matchup at UFC 318, scheduled for July 19 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. This highly anticipated bout is part of a card that also features a trilogy fight between local favorite Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway for the BMF title.
The fight between Holland and Rodriguez was confirmed by MMA Junkie, with Holland also announcing the matchup on social media. While the UFC has yet to officially confirm the bout, it has been generating excitement among fans.
This matchup is notable as Holland and Rodriguez were initially scheduled to fight at UFC 279 nearly three years ago, but Holland was diverted to face Khamzat Chimaev following a weigh-in issue, resulting in a loss for him, while Rodriguez went on to defeat Jingliang Li in his re-assigned bout.
Holland has remained active this year, having fought three times, including a recent submission victory against Vicente Luque at UFC 316, which earned him a performance bonus. Prior to that, he had a decision win over Gunnar Nelson. Despite facing a setback early in the year against newcomer Reinier de Ridder, Holland’s recent performances demonstrate his resilience and skill.
On the other hand, Rodriguez has shown a strong comeback after experiencing a rough patch with three consecutive losses. He recently secured a decision win over Alex Morono and achieved a significant third-round knockout of Santiago Ponzinibbio in May—his first stoppage victory in nearly four years.
As the card for UFC 318 continues to take shape, this matchup promises to add more excitement to an already dynamic lineup.
Overall, fans can look forward to an incredible night of fights, as both athletes bring a wealth of experience and determination to the octagon.