Kevin Holland stated he wants to avenge his losses, but explicitly refuses a rematch with Khamzat Chimaev. Brendan Allen, who previously claimed he would dominate Chimaev, visited his training camp for sparring sessions with results shown on video. Carlos Ulberg announced he wants Magomed Ankalaev for his first title defense. Paulo Costa moved up to number 7 in the light heavyweight rankings and called out Josh Hokit for a BMF belt fight. Sean O'Malley is reportedly struggling with Jiří Procházka's recent loss. Video footage emerged showing a collegiate wrestling match between Bo Nickal and Josh Hokit, when Hokit was considerably leaner.
Kevin Holland has made clear he has no interest in running back his fight with Khamzat Chimaev, even as he publicly states his desire to settle scores from previous losses. Meanwhile, a cluster of callouts and divisional movements are reshaping the middleweight and light heavyweight landscapes heading into the spring.
Holland's rejection of a Chimaev rematch stands out given the activity surrounding the Chechen-Swedish contender. Brendan Allen, the fifth-ranked middleweight who had previously declared he would dominate Chimaev, backed up his words to some degree by visiting Chimaev's training camp for sparring sessions, with footage from those sessions circulating publicly. Allen, 30, carries a 26-7 record and brings a well-rounded game — averaging 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per fifteen minutes — that makes him a credible measuring stick for any contender.
At light heavyweight, Carlos Ulberg has set his sights on Magomed Ankalaev, calling for the champion to defend his title against him. The callout positions Ulberg as an immediate contender looking to establish his reign with a marquee first defense.
Paulo Costa has entered the light heavyweight conversation in unconventional fashion. The Brazilian striker, ranked thirteenth at middleweight despite a 16-4 record, has moved up to seventh in the light heavyweight rankings and called out Josh Hokit — not for a title shot, but for a BMF belt fight. Costa, 35, lands 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the most dangerous pressure strikers in the sport at any weight.
Adding an unusual footnote to the Hokit name surfacing, video emerged of a collegiate wrestling match featuring Bo Nickal and a noticeably leaner Josh Hokit. Nickal, 30 and unranked beyond his 9-1 record, averages 3.1 takedowns and 2.5 submission attempts per fifteen minutes and remains one of the division's most anticipated prospects.
Why it matters
- Holland distancing himself from Chimaev clears a path for Allen to potentially secure that fight after his camp visit
- Ulberg naming Ankalaev immediately raises the stakes for the light heavyweight title picture
- Costa's jump to light heavyweight and BMF callout adds a wildcard element to an already crowded division
