Kevin Holland

Kevin Holland out of UFC on ESPN 9 with injury

 Kevin Holland’s plans are not working out as expected. 

Fresh off a first-round knockout of Anthony Hernandez at UFC on ESPN 8 on May 16, Holland is out of his scheduled bout with Daniel Rodriguez at UFC on ESPN 9 this Saturday, May 30. 

First reported by MMA Junkie, Holland suffered an injury during training and is not medically cleared to fight Rodriguez. Rodriguez currently remains on the card and is waiting for a new opponent.

Holland misses out on his welterweight debut and a 14-day turnaround. The 27-year-old even lobbied to fight Marvin Vettori at UFC on ESPN+ 29, May 13, just three days before his bout with Hernandez. Holland did not fight Vettori, but grabbed attention with his 39-second knockout of Hernandez. 

Rodriguez is coming off his UFC debut on Feb. 15. He submitted Tim Means with a second-round standing-guillotine choke at UFC on ESPN+ 25. 

The 33-year-old appeared on Dana White’s Contender Series in July 2019, defeating Ricco Farrington by unanimous decision. Rodriguez walked away with no contract, but earned a second-round knockout against Quinton McCottrell at Smash Global 9 in December 2019.

He signed with the UFC shortly after. 

UFC oN ESPN 9 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will broadcast on ESPN and stream on ESPN+.

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Connor Northrup
Connor Northrup once covered municipal meetings and promised himself never again. He is now combining his passion for Mixed Martial Arts and reporting all into one.