Hello, mixed martial artist fans! If you love following the MMA and admire world-class, Kevin Holland is a name you’ll recognize instantly. Kevin Holland is an American MMA fighter known for his high activity in the UFC, exciting striking style, and outspoken personality. As of early 2026, he is a veteran contender at welterweight and middleweight with millions in career earnings and a growing net worth from fights and endorsements.
Kevin Holland’s Biography
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Kevin Alan Holland |
| Nickname | “The Trailblazer” |
| Date of Birth | November 5, 1992 |
| Age | 33 years old |
| Birthplace | Riverside, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Christian |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Height | 6’3″ (191 cm) |
| Reach | 81 inches (206 cm) |
| Weight Class | Welterweight (170 lbs) |
| College | Chaffey College |
| High School | Los Osos High School |
| Turned Professional | 2015 |
| Instagram Handle | @trailblaze2top |
| Instagram Followers | ~726,000+ |
| Current Residence | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Spouse | Charlese Holland |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Estimated Net Worth | $5-6 million |
Early Career
Holland’s professional fighting journey began in 2015 after compiling a perfect 5-0 amateur record. His first five professional years saw him fight across multiple promotions, gaining invaluable experience that would serve him well in the UFC. Between 2015 and 2017, Holland competed in regional promotions including Xtreme Knockout (XKO), Genesis Combat Sports, Legacy FC, King of the Cage, and Bellator MMA.
During this period, he accumulated an impressive 12-3 record before catching the UFC’s attention. Holland also briefly competed in Muay Thai and kickboxing, developing a diverse striking arsenal that would later distinguish him in the octagon. His willingness to fight anyone, anywhere, at any time earned him respect within combat sports circles and eventually caught the eye of UFC scouts.
Professional Career
Holland entered the UFC in August 2018 with a challenging debut against established middleweight Thiago Santos at UFC 227, resulting in a loss via unanimous decision. Rather than discouraging him, this setback merely introduced Holland to the competitive tier of elite fighters. His second fight came quickly—just three months later at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2 in November 2018—where Holland impressively submitted John Phillips via rear-naked choke in the third round. From that moment forward, Holland’s UFC journey became defined by one characteristic: activity. While many fighters spend months between fights, Holland consistently sought out opponents, establishing himself as someone Dana White and the UFC could count on to take short-notice bouts against unfamiliar rivals.
The period from 2020 to 2021 represented Holland’s peak activity level, fighting multiple times per year across middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. He recorded impressive finishes against Charlie Ontiveros, Ronaldo Souza, and others, earning multiple Performance of the Night bonuses along the way. However, his move up in competition revealed gaps in his wrestling and clinch control, particularly against dominant grapplers like Marvin Vettori and Derek Brunson.
These losses, while significant, prompted Holland to address his technical deficiencies. He doubled down on his wrestling development and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training under black belt coach Travis Lutter in Fort Worth, demonstrating a willingness to evolve his fighting approach rather than stagnate. By 2025-2026, Holland had re-established himself as a dangerous welterweight threat, securing crucial victories over Vicente Luque at UFC 316 via D’Arce choke and earning his tenth career Performance of the Night bonus.
Wife
Holland married Charlese Holland on March 3, 2019, in a private wedding ceremony attended only by close friends and family. The wedding remains one of the few aspects of Holland’s life that stays away from public attention. Charlese, born in Colorado and raised with four siblings, pursued her own career path independent of Holland’s fighting spotlight.
She graduated from Durango High School and trained in cosmetology at the Academy of Hair Design in 2013. Beyond her salon ownership and management of “All Ways Beautiful” in Lake Worth, Texas, Charlese works as a model and has cultivated a substantial Instagram following of over 25,000 followers, often showcasing her fashion sense and lifestyle through social media.
Kevin Holland’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Kevin Holland’s estimated net worth ranges between $5-6 million, depending on the source and methodology used. This substantial wealth stems from multiple revenue streams, with UFC fight purses forming the foundation of his income. Holland typically earns between $150,000 and $300,000 per fight in base salary, with potential win bonuses doubling or significantly increasing his overall earnings. His highest-paid fight came at UFC 316 against Vicente Luque in June 2025, where he earned an impressive $471,000. This career-high purse reflected both his rising stock in the promotion and the relative importance of the welterweight bout.
Fight Purses
| Event | Date | Opponent | Result | Reported Earnings |
| UFC 316 | June 7, 2025 | Vicente Luque | Win (Sub) | $471,000 |
| UFC 318 | July 19, 2025 | Daniel Rodriguez | Loss (Dec) | $421,000 |
| UFC Fight Night 262 | October 18, 2025 | Mike Malott | Loss (Dec) | $375,000-$425,000 |
| UFC 311 | January 18, 2025 | Reinier de Ridder | Loss (Sub) | $250,000 |
| UFC Fight Night | March 22, 2025 | Gunnar Nelson | Win (Dec) | ~$200,000-$250,000 |
| UFC 307 | October 5, 2024 | Roman Dolidze | Loss (TKO) | $371,000 |
| UFC 302 | June 1, 2024 | Michał Oleksiejczuk | Win (Sub) | ~$150,000-$200,000 |
| UFC 291 | July 29, 2023 | Michael Chiesa | Win (Sub) | $356,000 |
| UFC 287 | April 8, 2023 | Santiago Ponzinibbio | Win (KO) | $316,000 |
| UFC Fight Night: Thompson | December 3, 2022 | Stephen Thompson | Loss (TKO) | $370,000 |
Endorsements & Sponsorships
Holland maintains an active endorsement portfolio that complements his fight earnings:
- BioSteel Sports Hydration – Serves as Holland’s official hydration partner, covering training camps and fight preparation; includes social media content creation and community fitness events through Holland’s nonprofit
- Hayabusa Combat – Provides fighting equipment and apparel sponsorship; features Holland in promotional campaigns and product launches
- Rule One Proteins – Nutrition and supplementation sponsor; Holland regularly promotes their products across social media platforms
- MyBookie – Sports betting and gambling sponsorship; Holland features prominently in promotional content targeting UFC audiences
- Jose Cuervo Tequila – Paid partnership sponsorship featuring Holland in brand campaigns and social media content
- Jimmy Bars – Nutrition and supplement sponsorship supporting his training regimen
- Clothing & Fashion Brands – Various luxury clothing lines and fashion brands provide sponsorship deals through his high social media engagement
Career Records
| Opponent | Event | Result | Round/Time | Significance |
| Vicente Luque | UFC 316 | Win (Sub) | R2, 1:03 | Career-high purse, 10th Performance bonus |
| Daniel Rodriguez | UFC 318 | Loss (Dec) | R3, 5:00 | Strong welterweight test |
| Mike Malott | UFC Fight Night 262 | Loss (Dec) | R3, 5:00 | Competitive bout with rising fighter |
| Reinier de Ridder | UFC 311 | Loss (Sub) | R1, 3:31 | Middleweight title contender |
| Gunnar Nelson | UFC Fight Night | Win (Dec) | R3, 5:00 | Comeback win after two losses |
| Roman Dolidze | UFC 307 | Loss (TKO) | R1, 5:00 | Corner stoppage due to rib injury |
| Michael Chiesa | UFC 291 | Win (Sub) | R1, 2:39 | Impressive submission over ranked fighter |
| Stephen Thompson | UFC Fight Night | Loss (TKO) | R4, 5:00 | Fight of the Night award; multiple fractures |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio | UFC 287 | Win (KO) | R3, 3:16 | Impressive striking finish |
| Khamzat Chimaev | UFC 279 | Loss (Sub) | R1, 2:13 | High-level grappler; D’Arce choke |
| Marvin Vettori | UFC on ABC 2 | Loss (Dec) | R5, 5:00 | Main event loss at middleweight |
| Derek Brunson | UFC Fight Night | Loss (Dec) | R5, 5:00 | Struggled against wrestling |
| John Phillips | UFC Fight Night | Win (Sub) | R3, 4:05 | Early UFC career victory |
| Thiago Santos | UFC 227 | Loss (Dec) | R3, 5:00 | UFC debut loss |
FAQs
1. What is Kevin Holland’s real nickname and why is he called “The Trailblazer”?
Kevin Holland earned the nickname “The Trailblazer” due to his unique approach to fighting—constantly taking fights, exploring new challenges, and blazing his own trail through the UFC rather than following traditional career trajectories. He’s known for his unpredictable striking, willingness to fight anyone on short notice, and his fearless approach to higher-ranked opponents. The nickname reflects both his physical style and his mindset of forging ahead without hesitation.
2. How many times has Kevin Holland fought in a single calendar year?
Holland holds a UFC record for activity, fighting five times in 2020 alone. In 2025, he competed five times (UFC 311, UFC Fight Night, UFC 316, UFC 318, UFC Fight Night 262), and he’s expressed intentions to fight eight times in 2026. This makes him one of the most active competitors in UFC history, rivaling only a select few fighters for sheer bout frequency.
3. What is Kevin Holland’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu belt level?
Kevin Holland is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, earning this high rank through years of dedicated training. He trains extensively at Travis Lutter BJJ in Fort Worth, Texas, under the guidance of established grappling coaches. His jiu-jitsu expertise is evidenced by his submission victories throughout his UFC career, including multiple D’Arce chokes, rear-naked chokes, and armbar submissions.
4. How did Kevin Holland overcome his difficult childhood?
Holland’s turbulent early life, marked by parental incarceration and behavioral issues in school, could have derailed his future. However, he discovered martial arts at sixteen years old, which provided structure, discipline, and purpose. A pivotal moment came when a kung fu instructor defeated him decisively in class, humbling Holland and inspiring him to pursue fighting seriously. This transformation through combat sports demonstrates the profound impact structured training can have on youth from challenging backgrounds.
5. What is the main reason for Kevin Holland’s UFC fight frequency?
Holland has explicitly stated that he fights frequently because he enjoys getting paid and competing. Unlike fighters motivated primarily by title shots or legacy, Holland views fights as his primary income source and has optimized his career around maximizing earning potential through volume. He’s mentioned his philosophy: “Show up, win fights, do the contract, assassinate the person in front of me, collect my checks, and go on to the next one.”
6. Has Kevin Holland ever competed in other combat sports besides MMA?
Yes, before becoming an MMA full-time fighter, Holland competed in kickboxing and Muay Thai in addition to his regional MMA fights. He also briefly held the XKO (Xtreme Knockout) Middleweight Championship, demonstrating his willingness to explore different combat sports and weight classes.
7. What are Kevin Holland’s fight finishing statistics?
Holland has recorded 22 career finishes out of 28 wins: 13 via knockout/TKO and 9 via submission. His finishing rate (approximately 79% of wins by finish) demonstrates his striking power and grappling prowess. This high finish rate suggests Holland doesn’t rely on point accumulation but instead actively pursues decisive victories.
8. Who is Kevin Holland’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach?
Holland trains under Travis Lutter BJJ in Fort Worth, Texas. Lutter is a renowned grappling coach who has worked with multiple UFC fighters. The facility emphasizes wrestling integration with jiu-jitsu, addressing Holland’s historical weakness against elite grapplers and wrestlers.
9. Does Kevin Holland have children, and how does he balance family with his fighting career?
Holland has at least one child, and possibly two, though he maintains privacy regarding exact details. He references his family on social media occasionally but doesn’t publicize his children’s identities or personal information. His wife Charlese supports his fighting career while pursuing her own professional endeavors, creating a partnership that balances both of their ambitions.
10. What are Kevin Holland’s goals for the remainder of his UFC career?
Holland has publicly stated ambitious fighting goals, expressing intentions to compete eight times in 2026 and continuing his ascent in the welterweight rankings. While he hasn’t explicitly pursued a title shot, he’s mentioned the possibility of fighting top-ranked opponents like Colby Covington. His primary focus remains generating income through fight purses and establishing himself as the UFC’s most active and reliable fighter, rather than pursuing championship gold at the expense of his financial stability.