Following his return to the winner’s circle at UFC 302, Kevin Holland named Joaquin Buckley as one option for his next fight.
Holland entered this past weekend’s pay-per-view event at Newark’s Prudential Center on a losing skid, having dropped consecutive decisions to Jack Della Maddalena and Michael “Venom” Page down at 170 pounds.
But “Trailblazer” bounced back in style when making a short-notice return to middleweight on June 1, submitting Michał Oleksiejczuk in the first round by way of a brutal armbar.
Given his usual high level of activity, Holland is unsurprisingly looking to get back into the cage again soon enough.
And while open to whatever the UFC should slide across his table, the 31-year-old Texan does have one potential fight in mind…
Holland Open To Keeping ‘Kid’ Buckley ‘In Line’
During a backstage interview with Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter in Newark, Holland reflected on his successful performance in “Brick City” on Saturday night and looked ahead to what could await him down the line.
After noting a willingness to do battle at either welterweight or middleweight, “Big Mouth” threw out the name of Joaquin Buckley as a possible opponent option post-UFC 302.
Whatever the UFC wants me to do. I’m pretty sure there’s somebody that needs their ass whooped,” Holland said. “Joaquin Buckley keeps running his mouth. Maybe I have to go whoop him. That is my son. You know, you gotta always keep your kids in line.
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Holland and Buckley previously collided at the Apex back in 2020, where the former recorded a knockout 32 seconds into the third and final round. The result was the second on a record run of five straight wins in that calendar year for “Trailblazer.”
Buckley subsequently rose to prominence by delivering an all-time great knockout against Impa Kasanganay. After his progress at 185 pounds stalled, “New Mansa” now finds himself ranked at welterweight following victories over Vicente Luque and Nursulton Ruziboev in 2024.
