Kevin Holland knows what he needs to work on and he’s taking the steps necessary to make strides in the wrestling department.
After a stellar 2020, Holland (21-7 MMA, 8-4 UFC) lost back-to-back fights to kick off his 2021 schedule. Both defeats came to top contenders, Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori – and both occurred due to Holland being outwrestled.
On the broadcast following his loss to Vettori, commentator Daniel Cormier made an offer to Holland that he should come to Northern California to drill wrestling. Cormier offered to show Holland the ropes and even run him through a training camp at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), which has housed Cormier, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Cain Velasquez, among others.
Late last week, Holland took Cormier up on his offer and made the trip out to Northern California. While he did not train at AKA, the two met up for a few wrestling sessions at Antdawg’s in Gilroy, Calif., which Cormier captured portions of and posted to his Instagram.
According to Holland’s manager, KO Reps president Oren Hodak, the training was temporary. While the plan is for Holland to meet up with Cormier again later this year, the Texas-based fighter still calls Travis Lutter BJJ his home base.
“We are looking to return to the cage in July or August,” Hodak told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. “Although, if anything opens up, you know Kevin is always ready and willing. Meanwhile, he will be going back and forth to get in some work with DC and his crew out in San Jose. Texas will remain his main home base for training, just adding California and some work in Vegas at the PI.”
Holland does not currently have a fight scheduled. The current skid of back-to-back losses are his first consecutive defeats since 2015.
