Daniel Rodriguez is looking forward to his UFC 279 fight against Kevin Holland as the latest addition to the weekend’s card.
Rodriguez and Holland have been calling each other for quite some time after they were supposed to battle in 2020. They will now meet at a 180 lbs catchweight bout on Saturday after they took this fight on short notice. It should be a very entertaining striking fight and Rodriguez has high expectations for this scrap.
Daniel Rodriguez vs Kevin Holland is a Late Addition to UFC 279
“He’s a tough opponent, definitely for sure,” Rodriguez said at UFC 279 media day.
“He’s got a lot of momentum coming into the welterweight division. Two wins. He beat a guy that I beat. Kevin Holland, fighting him coming back, is a fun fight for me. It’s a fight that was supposed to happen. The fans have been wanting me to fight him forever. I’m just glad I get to come back and fight him. … The fans are just so hyped for it. I am. It just makes for an amazing fight.”
Entering the fight, Rodriguez is well-aware that Holland will be talking to him and trash-talking during the fight. D-Rod, however, says he won’t let that impact him as he will just be focused on the fight.
“I never really have been that talking type,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve been more about that action. He does a lot of trash-talking and sh*t. I don’t think it’s going to affect me much. I grew up around a bunch of trash talkers.”
A Catchweight Fight, Holland vs Rodriguez Will Still Be a Statement Match at Middleweight
If Rodriguez does what he thinks he will do and beats Holland, he knows it will be a big win for his career. Holland is hyped up and has been ranked at middleweight, so D-Rod expects a win over Holland puts him in a good spot to get another big fight next time out.
“Really, I just want to get past this fight,” Rodriguez said. “I want to handle this fight and whatever happens after that. I know a big win Saturday will definitely put me in a good, good position for potential bigger fights. I’ve just got to get through this fight.”
