Kevin Holland stated he always wants to avenge his losses except against Khamzat Chimaev, emphatically refusing any rematch proposal. Meanwhile, Brendan Allen, who had claimed he would dominate Khamzat in a fight, traveled to Chimaev's training camp for sparring sessions with results shown on video. Carlos Ulberg announced he wants to defend his title against Magomed Ankalaev in his first defense. Paulo Costa, who rose to seventh in the light heavyweight rankings, has called out Josh Hewitt for a BMF title fight. Sean O'Malley is reportedly having difficulty dealing with Jiri Prochazka's recent loss. Video footage surfaced showing a college wrestling match between Bo Nickal and Josh Hewitt, revealing that Hewitt was considerably leaner in his earlier years.
Kevin Holland has made it clear he has no interest in running back his bout with Khamzat Chimaev, telling media that while he always seeks to avenge his losses, Chimaev is the one exception he is willing to live with.
Holland's blunt stance stands in contrast to what fifth-ranked middleweight Brendan Allen has been saying publicly. Allen, who holds a 26-7 record and has previously claimed he would handle Chimaev with ease, recently traveled to Chimaev's training camp for sparring sessions, with footage from those sessions circulating on video.
Allen, 30, trains out of Kill Cliff FC and brings a well-rounded game to the middleweight division. He averages 1.56 takedowns per fifteen minutes and attempts more than one submission per fifteen minutes, making him one of the more complete grapplers in the top ten. His striking output sits at 3.59 significant strikes per minute at 53 percent accuracy.
Elsewhere in the sport, Paulo Costa has turned his attention to the light heavyweight division after climbing to seventh in those rankings. The Brazilian, nicknamed The Eraser, carries a 16-4 record and fights out of Team Borracha. At 35, Costa is one of the more prolific strikers in the UFC, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy at middleweight. He has called out Josh Hewitt for a BMF title fight.
Adding an unusual footnote to the Hewitt conversation, video from a college wrestling match between Bo Nickal and Hewitt surfaced online, showing Hewitt looking considerably lighter than he does today.
Why it matters
- Holland's refusal to pursue a Chimaev rematch closes off what would have been a marquee middleweight booking.
- Allen visiting Chimaev's camp after making bold public claims adds a layer of competitive intrigue to their rivalry of words.
- Costa's move toward light heavyweight and a BMF callout signals a potential divisional shift for one of the sport's most aggressive strikers.
- Jiri Prochazka, ranked second at light heavyweight with a 32-6-1 record, remains a central figure in that division's storylines as others position themselves.
