Kevin Holland had second thoughts moments before UFC 287 walkout: 'Should I even be f*cking fighting?'

MIAMI – Kevin Holland won Saturday in impressive fashion. Unbeknownst to many, he did so compromised.

Over the 13-plus-minute duration of his UFC 287 bout, Holland (24-9 MMA, 11-6 UFC) barely threw his right hand. Holland switched stances and threw mostly left punches and kicks until he landed a TKO blow (a left hook) on Santiago Ponzinibbio at 3:16 of Round 3.

Holland is glad he competed, given the performance, but revealed in a post-fight news conference he reconsidered his participation minutes before the walkout. His hand still has issues from his UFC on ESPN 42 battle against Stephen Thompson last December and subsequent surgery thereafter.

“To knock him out was pretty cool,” Holland told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “I didn’t go in there with intentions to hit him with the right hand. We actually threw the right hand in the back, and it was my first time putting on little gloves. I hit the pad and I was like, ‘Damn, that sh*t hurts.’ To remind you, I did break it. That didn’t feel good.

“I actually messaged my mom right before I went out there like, ‘Man, should I even be f*cking fighting?’ She’s like, ‘I told you to stay home.’ I’m glad I didn’t listen to mom this time.”

For training camp, Holland implied he used bigger gloves than the standard 4-ounce gloves worn in the UFC. During his warm-up on fight night, Holland felt discomfort as soon as the standard gloves slipped on.

Despite his injury and knowing what would be good for the average person’s health in his position, Holland indicated his ailment will not prevent him from fighting soon – especially if it’s the right opponent.

“I thought it was great until I put those little gloves on,” Holland said. “Then, it didn’t feel too good. I think I need a couple more months of smart recovery and stuff like that before I jump back inside the cage. Fighting International Fight Week probably wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do, but sh*t, I’d probably fight in a month if it was Michael Chiesa.”

Chiesa (16-6 MMA, 11-6 UFC) was also supposed to compete at UFC 287, but his fight was canceled days prior to the event due to a spinal injury suffered by opponent Li Jingliang.

International Fight Week’s main attraction is UFC 290 on July 8 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Should Holland compete then, it would mark his fourth fight in less than 10 months.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 287.