Kevin Holland Gets Quick Turnaround After UFC 311 Loss, Returns to Welterweight Against Gunnar Nelson at UFC London
Kevin Holland isn’t wasting any time getting back in the Octagon following his UFC 311 setback.
The always-active Kevin Holland is set to make a quick turnaround as he returns to welterweight to take on submission specialist Gunnar Nelson at UFC London on March 22, 2025. The event will take place inside The O2 Arena in London, England, and is shaping up to be one of the most exciting cards of the year.
Holland (26-13-1) last fought at UFC 311, where he suffered a first-round submission loss to former ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder. That bout marked his second consecutive defeat, prompting a return to the 170-pound division, where he previously found success with wins over Michael Chiesa and Santiago Ponzinibbio.
Meanwhile, Nelson (19-5-1) continues his pattern of fighting once a year in London, a tradition he has kept for the past two years. The Icelandic grappling ace last competed in March 2024, securing a dominant first-round submission victory over Bryan Barberena. Before that, he returned from a three-year hiatus with a win against Takashi Sato.
Holland and Nelson bring an intriguing clash of styles to the cage. Holland is known for his striking and unpredictable movement, while Nelson is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with a knack for finishing fights on the ground. This matchup could serve as a must-watch battle between two well-rounded welterweights looking to climb the rankings.
With this exciting addition, here’s how the UFC London card is shaping up:
- Leon Edwards vs. Jack Della Maddalena
- Jan Blachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg
- Kevin Holland vs. Gunnar Nelson
- Molly McCann vs. Istela Nunes
- Mick Parkin vs. Marcin Tybura
- Felipe Dos Santos vs. Lone’er Kavanagh
- Alonzo Menifield vs. Oumar Sy
- Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Andrey Pulyaev
- Morgan Charriere vs. Nathaniel Wood
- Nathan Fletcher vs. Caolan Loughran
- Jai Herbert vs. Chris Padilla
- Shauna Bannon vs. Puja Tomar
With high-stakes fights on the card, UFC London is poised to deliver an unforgettable night of action.
