Kevin Holland: Khamzat Chimaev ‘only does this extra wannabe street sh*t when the media is around’
LAS VEGAS – Kevin Holland says there’s no beef with Khazmat Chimaev, despite past in-person run-ins – but he still tells it how he sees it.
“I’ve never had an issue,” Holland told reporters including MMA Junkie at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “Nobody. Now, I’m going to tell you how I feel about anybody. ‘The dude on the left is a b*tch. The dude on the right is a b*tch. Dude in the middle, he’s definitely a b*tch.’ I don’t have a problem with anybody.
At UFC 279, Holland (23-7 MMA, 10-4 UFC) will share the main card with Chimaev (11-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC), who fights Nate Diaz in the main event. Holland fights Daniel Rodriguez two fights prior.
While Holland indicated he has no ill-will, he said his honesty is often mistaken for it. Holland thinks Chimaev is fake and acts differently when the cameras are on.
“I feel like he likes the f*cking media,” Holland said. “I feel like he only does this extra wannabe street sh*t when the media is around. Other than that, he doesn’t do it. I mean, when you guys aren’t around he wants to do fist bumps and he wants to be your best friend. When you guys are around, all of a sudden he’s like, ‘Agh, I’ll rip your f*cking head off.’ He ain’t ripping sh*t off, dog. Let’s be real. He wants a paycheck, just like the rest of these guys around here.”
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The rivalry, whether perceived or real, began in 2021. Holland criticized Chimaev for how he handled a bout with COVID-19 among other things. The two welterweight fighters allegedly had a run-in in a hotel lobby thereafter and were separated.
Call it beef or call it telling the truth. Either way, Holland is picking Chimaev to defeat Diaz on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.
“He should win, on paper,” Holland said.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 279.
