Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker doesn't think much of Kevin Holland after the middleweight's performance at UFC 311.
Recent UFC newcomer Reinier de Ridder made quick work of Kevin Holland on the UFC 311 main card last Saturday in Los Angeles. Just minutes into the fight, De Ridder got the back of the Netherlands and secured a back-naked choke submission to move to 2-0 during his promotion stint.
Once the fight got to the ground, former ONE doubles champion De Ridder easily controlled Holland and eventually forced a quick tap. Holland alternated between welterweight and middleweight during his career, losing four of his last five fights.
The UFC broadcast team, including Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier, believed Holland should fight at welterweight for the rest of his career after another lopsided defeat at middleweight. Although he has scored some impressive wins at 185 pounds, he has struggled to fend off some of the division's best wrestlers and is often lagging behind in size.
Robert Whittaker, who is coming off a submission loss in his most recent outing, shared a harsh assessment of Holland after UFC 311.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Robert Whittaker defeats Kevin Holland after final submission loss
On a recent episode of the MMArcade podcast, Whittaker didn't hold back for Holland after the middleweights' latest defeat.
“Dude, he's so average,” Whittaker began. 'What do you want me to say? He just keeps doing the same thing over and over again, and the same thing keeps happening. The same! Good for those guys, I don't know.
Whittaker and Holland have no notable history to explain the former middleweight champion's blunt assessment. But it is clear that he does not have a high opinion of the Netherlands and believes that he is overrated when it comes to his skills.
Whittaker's comments have some merit after Holland's recent losing situation. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt has repeatedly refused to use his wrestling significantly throughout his UFC career, most notably during his UFC Orlando headliner against Stephen Thompson in December 2022.
Usually stoic, Robert Whittaker goes after Kevin Holland after UFC 311
After tying the UFC record for most wins in a calendar year in 2020 (5), Holland has struggled to replicate his previous success inside the Octagon. Before his loss to De Ridder at UFC 311, he suffered a corner loss to Roman Dolidze at UFC 307 after tagging Michal Oleksiejczuk last June.
Whittaker is also looking to get back in the win column after a submission loss to undefeated Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308. Before the loss, he finished Ikram Aliskerov at UFC Saudi Arabia to get back into the middleweight title mix.
Holland and Whittaker may never come face-to-face in the cage during their careers, but it's clear the former UFC champion doesn't see Holland as much of a threat. While Holland has not responded to Whittaker as of this writing, it could be a matter of time.
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