No Off Switch: UFC Fighter Kevin Holland

Sweat streaks down Kevin Holland’s face as he shifts his weight, acid coursing through his muscles. His eyes dart left to right, scanning for movement, always alert and ready to move. Suddenly, a burst of power threatens to throw him off balance. His legs burn as he braces against the force, reacting on instinct. There’s no room for hesitation. One wrong move and he’s on the ground. Holland tightens his grip and leans firmly to one side.

Beneath him, his horse stills and follows obediently.

You might think an elite UFC fighter takes life a little easier in their downtime, resting up for the next big fight. In Holland’s case, you’d be very wrong. Even when he’s at home on his farm and ranch in rural Texas, Holland’s schedule runs at a breakneck pace. Holland gets just as much of a workout training his horses as he does fighting in the Octagon.

“I’m constantly working, constantly grinding. I put a big workload on myself,” Holland said. “Living this life, taking care of all my responsibilities, whether it's the animals or hanging out with my kids and family, it keeps me lined up when I'm in the cage. It keeps me going.”

Holland has built his life around nonstop movement inside and outside the cage, from his unique fighting style to the momentum of his career to the steamroller routine he keeps up every day. No matter the task at hand or challenge he’s confronted with, Holland tackles it with a fighter’s mentality.

Never let up. Not for one second.

ALL OR NOTHING

Holland is relentless by nature. His tireless drive is not a matter of choice or even pure discipline. It’s at the core of his identity.

“Fighters have a certain type of mental strength that a lot of people can't even grasp, and they're able to take that strength into several different parts of their life,” Holland explained. “That's what makes a hardworking martial artist someone who can go out and thrive.”

Built into the DNA of a fighter is a refusal to ease up. They can’t let anything slip. They can’t be caught off guard. They can’t let themselves get out of shape. The UFC doesn’t have an off-season, so Holland has to stay fit and ready to go year-round. He’s built a name for himself taking last-minute fights and staying one of the most active fighters on the roster, holding the modern UFC record for the most fights in a calendar year. Holland’s speed and agile fighting style electrify his crowds, and he’s even been given the name “Big Mouth” by UFC President Dana White, thanks to his reputation for talking and joking nonstop with his opponents in the cage.

Holland goes into each fight with everything he has, regardless of the stakes. Underdog or favorite, Holland’s focus in the cage is on gaining as much experience as possible. He knows there’s nothing to be gained by sitting fights out, and his open-minded attitude has given him a valuable edge on the competition.

“Best piece of advice I ever heard was from my grandfather. He said that experience is the best teacher. That put me where I am today. When guys said no to fights, I said, ‘Yes.’ I walked away with my hand raised half the time. When I didn’t, I was rewarded for being the only person that was willing to go and get that experience. It pays off more and more each time.”

NO TIME TO REST

Achieving champion-level performance as a fighter requires frequent, high-intensity training camps that last six to eight weeks in addition to constant off-camp training. When Holland’s at home, he commits to three workouts a day, the first starting at 5 a.m. That schedule alone would be intense enough for any one person. Holland prefers to amp it up by adding in the maintenance of his farm and ranch. Holland owns, manages, and actively maintains land covering hundreds of acres, training cutting horses to compete and raising cattle alongside all the never-ending work that comes with the upkeep of his property.

“I'm going to mow five acres and then some. I'm going to ride two horses and work out three times. Before the night's over, I'll kiss my kids, tell them I love them before they go to bed, and I’ll enjoy my life for a while. Then it's time to nap,” Holland said. “Most people sleep every night. I nap every night.”

Holland’s strong work ethic is rooted in physical hard labor. Every hour of the day, he pushes his body to its limits. Between fight training and the demands of his farm, he combines the cast-iron discipline of an athlete with the grit of rural living. These two defining parts of his life mirror each other in that neither allows him to slow down. Much like the UFC, farming has no off-season. Animals have to be fed 365 days a year, and land has to be constantly maintained to keep it healthy and manageable. It’s never time to quit because there’s always more work to be done.

EVERTHING TO GIVE

Being one of the most active fighters on the roster and moving at the fastest pace comes with sacrifices. Frequent travel, long periods away from home, and not being able to be there for every gathering with family and friends are all part of the deal. Although his career is a constant challenge, Holland still brings his dedication and intensity to every responsibility he holds, including his role as a father and mentor. Even during his most demanding training periods, he prioritizes time with his family.

“If I set up a training camp, and there's a day off, whether it's a drive or a flight, I'm making sure I get home,” Holland said. “Even if it's just for one night to hang out with the kids, I'm going to do that. That’s what matters to me.”

As a full-time fighter, farmer, and father, it’s hard to believe Holland could still have energy left to give, but he does. Holland is actively involved in community advocacy in his hometown. Through his nonprofit efforts, he works to uplift fathers and support working families, using his platform and gym partnerships to host local community events on key holidays like Father’s Day and Christmas.

“Growing up, I had the best Christmases with my grandparents,” Holland remembered. “If I can recreate that for other kids, for the ones who don’t have family around, that makes me feel good. I've always enjoyed giving back.”

NOTHING LEFT TO PROVE

If there’s one word that sums Holland up, it’s his well-known nickname, “Trailblazer.” Given to him in his early fighting days, Holland has earned that name through the challenging pace he’s set for himself in every aspect of his life. It captures his forward momentum, his independent spirit, and his hunger to improve.

There’s no sign of Holland slowing down anytime soon. That said, given all the success he’s achieved to date, there’s one thing that has come to a complete stop: feeling the need to prove himself to anyone.

“At this stage of my career, I'm proud. I'm happy. I can feed my family. I can take care of all my responsibilities,” Holland said. “Those are the things that matter, and those are the things that I'm achieving. A long run is a good run.”