UFC welterweight Kevin Holland abruptly ended his participation in a UFC 316 Media Day session after facing questions regarding his ongoing dispute with former UFC champion Rampage Jackson.
The strained relationship between the two fighters originated from a controversial appearance Holland made on Jackson`s “Jaxxon” podcast earlier this year. The interview reportedly became quite heated, during which Holland, despite the significant size difference, suggested he would be willing to fight the much larger former light-heavyweight champion.
At the time of the podcast, Holland was preparing for a middleweight bout against Reinier De Ridder at UFC 311, which he lost via submission. He has since returned to welterweight and secured a victory over Gunnar Nelson at UFC London.
Holland`s Media Day Exit Amid Feud Speculation
During his recent media availability ahead of UFC 316, Holland was asked about his experience on Rampage Jackson`s podcast. He initially brought up the issue of payment for his appearance, claiming he was still owed money. However, the situation escalated when a reporter specifically questioned him about the current status of his relationship with Jackson.
Holland, known for his outspoken nature, indicated that the negative experience on the “Jaxxon” podcast had made him less inclined to give interviews. He reiterated his complaint about the payment process from the podcast hosts.
Responding to the direct question about Rampage Jackson, Holland appeared visibly annoyed. He questioned why the reporter was focused on Jackson, given that Jackson is no longer an active UFC fighter, before abruptly stating he was leaving the session.
Despite declaring his departure, Holland did briefly stay to pose for photographs, though he seemed clearly displeased by the line of questioning regarding Rampage Jackson.
Recapping the Heated Podcast Showdown
The confrontation on the “Jaxxon” podcast back in January reportedly became extremely tense, with the exchange between Holland and Jackson almost leading to a physical altercation. During the discussion, Holland provocatively suggested the idea of an unlikely fight between them.
Jackson repeatedly dismissed the notion, telling the younger fighter, “That’s the last thing he wants to do is fight me.” Holland, however, maintained his stance, saying, “I still want to. I don’t give a f— about the fight on Saturday.” Jackson countered sternly, emphasizing that Holland did not truly want that fight, stating, “Sometimes, people don’t know what they want. You don’t want to fight me.”
