Holland Dismisses Smith's Callouts Ahead Of UFC 334

Kevin Holland has little interest in Jacobe Smith's repeated callouts.

Smith has spent months calling out Holland after an injury forced the veteran welterweight to withdraw from their scheduled UFC Oklahoma City bout. Smith went on to stack two more wins, including a decision over Randy Brown in late October, but has continued pressing for the Holland matchup, even saying he wants to murder the Fort Worth native. That persistence has yet to secure the fight he wants.

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Holland Questions Smith's Focus Before Medic Fight

Holland addressed Smith's fixation in a social media video posted Monday. He questioned why Smith remains preoccupied with him when he holds no title and is not blocking Smith's path to the rankings. Holland noted the geographic distinction between himself in Fort Worth and Smith in Dallas, and said their fighting styles do not align. He acknowledged Smith's wrestling prowess but said ground-heavy approaches are not his interest.

Holland pointed out that Smith's knockout wins have come largely against fighters fresh from the regional circuit, opponents Holland himself stopped years earlier. He referenced his own close submission attempt against Brown, saying the Colorado native is difficult to finish. Still, Holland said he does not understand Smith's frustration with him specifically.

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Holland faces No. 12 welterweight Uros Medic this Saturday at UFC 334 in New York City. After that bout, Holland said he plans to ignore Smith's advances entirely, comparing his approach to how Jon Jones handled Tom Aspinall's callouts. MMA Fighting first carried Holland's comments.

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• MMA Fighting — Kevin Holland responds to Jacobe Smith’s callouts: ‘What the f*ck is the guy worried about me for?’