Kevin Holland is preparing to face Daniel Rodriguez at UFC 318, a matchup that was originally planned several years ago but was disrupted due to the Khamzat Chimaev fight disruption at UFC 279. The welterweight bout will finally happen on July 18 in New Orleans, providing both fighters with a long-awaited opportunity to compete against each other in the Octagon.
At UFC 279, just one day before their scheduled 180-pound catchweight contest, Chimaev’s significant weight miss caused the cancellation of his main event fight against Nate Diaz, forcing the UFC to reshuffle the fight card. Holland was moved to face Chimaev on short notice but was defeated by submission in under two and a half minutes at the T-Mobile Arena.
Recent Fight Success and UFC 318’s Lineup
Holland has maintained an active schedule throughout 2024. Earlier this year, he earned a quick submission victory over Vicente Luque at UFC 316 in Newark, winning in just 63 seconds and securing his place back in the welterweight rankings. Rather than waiting for a high-profile opponent, Holland has sought out multiple matches to maintain momentum.
The rescheduled fight against Daniel Rodriguez at UFC 318 was confirmed via a report by @realkevink on X. This UFC 318 event will also feature a major headline fight, with Dustin Poirier set to compete in his retirement bout against Max Holloway, contesting the symbolic BMF belt.
On Track for a Historic Year of Competition
The renewed bout with Rodriguez puts Holland on pace to set a new UFC record for the number of fights in a single calendar year. Holland currently shares this record with 11 other fighters, including Chris Leben, Neil Magny, Uriah Hall, and Jessica Andrade. Of those, only three—including Holland—have remained undefeated with five wins in one year.
While Reinier de Ridder ended Holland’s winning streak in January at UFC 311, the 32-year-old fighter still has time to distinguish himself if he can step into the Octagon for six fights in 2024. After the bout with Rodriguez in July, Holland has five more months during which he can take on at least two more opponents to break the record for most wins in a year.
The Future Implications of Holland’s UFC 318 Fight
This matchup not only resurfaces a delayed contest but also represents a critical milestone for Holland’s career ambitions of setting a UFC participation record. For Daniel Rodriguez, this fight offers a chance to assert his presence in the welterweight division against a high-volume competitor. Fans will be watching closely as the two finally meet after years of anticipation triggered by the Khamzat Chimaev fight disruption.