Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Holland Reveals He Wanted Revenge For His Coach In 'Dream Fight' Against Former UFC Middleweight Champion

Originally posted on MMA News | Last updated 8/22/23

Kevin Holland has revealed that he always wanted to share the Octagon with Anderson Silva, but surprisingly that desire has nothing to do with the Brazilian’s status as one of the greatest champions in the history of the UFC.

“Trailblazer” is coming off a first-round submission victory over Michael Chiesa that now has him slotted in at #13 in the UFC’s welterweight rankings. The 30-year-old will try and win three fights in a row on September 16 when he takes on Jack Della Maddalana, who sits just behind him in the rankings and is unbeaten since he joined the UFC last year.

Holland recently spoke to Michael Bisping on the former UFC champion’s YouTube channel to discuss his upcoming fight at Noche UFC, and when asked to name his “dream matchup” the welterweight revealed that he was always interested in a bout with Silva.

“It was really honestly Anderson Silva,” Holland answered. “Anderson Silva was the dream matchup and fight. Travis Lutter was like a father to me. Like when I say like a father and everything, he was really like a father to me. He was there when a lot of people didn’t wanna be there for me. And Anderson Silva was one of those big losses that he had that everybody [knows] him for.”

Kevin Holland Explains Desire For Matchup With Anderson Silva

Lutter was one of the fighters that came up short against Silva during the Brazilian’s incredible reign as the UFC’s middleweight champion, and although Holland has nothing but respect for “The Spider” he would have loved to avenge his coach’s loss from UFC 67.

“I wanted to fight Anderson Silva, just a simple fact just to get back for my pops. That was always the one that I wanted. I have a lot of respect for Anderson Silva, think he’s one hell of an athlete, so on and so forth. But you do my family wrong, then I wanna do you wrong. Nothing but love and respect for the guy, but that was the dream.”

Holland joined the UFC as a middleweight off of Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018, and he had a successful run in the weight class that included winning five-straight fights in 2020. “Trailblazer” dropped down to the welterweight division last year, and after losing to former title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson the 30-year-old now has back-to-back stoppage wins.

The matchup with Della Maddalena at Noche UFC will be a significant bout for each man’s future in the welterweight division, and they’ll also be competing on a card headlined by the highly-anticipated rematch for the women’s flyweight title between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko.

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