UFC 307’s Kevin Holland tired of inactive ‘bums’ complaining about fighter pay: ‘I’m just active’

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Kevin Holland’s approach to UFC competition is different than most. Though “Trailblazer” has certainly put his best foot forward in two separate divisions, he’s never seemed overly heartbroken that a title run has yet to materialize after 22 bouts inside the Octagon. Instead, Holland has been plenty content to cash checks in two divisions, jumping on short-notice fights in two separate weight classes to set various UFC records for overall activity.

He’s very much the modern day Donald Cerrone in terms of activity, and picking up eight post-fight bonuses in the process doesn’t hurt his finances. Holland’s anyone, any time style is certainly lucrative, and it has him feeling less than sympathetic towards fighters who only compete once or twice a year then struggle to make ends meet.

“Half these people are running around talking about, ‘We don’t get paid enough. We don’t get paid enough. We don’t get paid enough.’ You don’t fight enough,” Holland said (via MMA Junkie). “At the end of the day, you want to get paid for sh*t you don’t do. F*cking sound like a bum to me. Just remember, I wasn’t the bum like the rest of these guys.”

He continued, “I had real jobs before this so I understand activity. I understand going to work so I can pay my bills and I’ve got a lot of bills. Respect to Alex [Pereira]. Alex has done this and gotten the belt and stayed active. Lot of missions and they’re all successful missions. Me? I’m just active.”

Holland’s iron man strategy to fighting is admirable, and it’s true that a lot of fighters wouldn’t be up for the task of jumping weight classes on short-notice. However, it’s equally true that many don’t receive the opportunity. The UFC roster is massive, and the promotion only holds so many events and so many fights each year. Most athletes are lucky to fight twice in a year and can end up waiting for months on the sidelines in the hopes of getting an offer.

If there’s no opening, there’s no getting paid.

Ultimately, Holland returns to action this weekend (Oct. 5, 2024), opening the main card of UFC 307 at 185-pounds opposite Roman Dolidze. It’s his second Middleweight bout this year, and victory would likely return him to the official UFC rankings.

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