Kevin Holland has stated that while he always wants to avenge his losses, he has zero interest in a rematch with Khamzat Chimaev, responding to the suggestion with a profanity-laced rejection. Meanwhile, Brendan Allen, who had publicly claimed he would dominate Chimaev in a fight, traveled to Chimaev's training camp for sparring sessions, with results shown in accompanying video. In other news, Carlos Ulberg announced he wants Magomed Ankalaev for his first title defense, and Paulo Costa, now ranked #7 at light heavyweight, has called out Josh Hockit for a BMF belt fight. The post also notes that Sean O'Malley is having difficulty processing Jiri Prochazka's recent loss, and includes footage of a college wrestling match between Bo Nickal and Josh Hockit, showing Hockit was considerably leaner in his earlier years.
Kevin Holland has made clear he is open to rematches across his career — with one very specific exception. The welterweight contender responded to the suggestion of a second fight with Khamzat Chimaev with a profanity-laced refusal, drawing a firm line under that particular chapter of his record.
Holland's rejection comes as middleweight contender Brendan Allen took a notably different approach to Chimaev. Allen, who had publicly claimed he would dominate Chimaev in a fight, backed up his words by traveling to Chimaev's training camp for sparring sessions, with footage from those sessions subsequently released. Allen enters that situation as a serious competitor at 26-7, ranked fifth in the middleweight division at 30 years old. Fighting out of Kill Cliff FC, the six-foot-two American averages 1.56 takedowns per 15 minutes and attempts 1.1 submissions in the same span, making him a credible grappling threat for any camp to evaluate.
Elsewhere at light heavyweight, Carlos Ulberg has called out Magomed Ankalaev for his first title defense following his recent championship win. Paulo Costa, known as The Eraser, has also raised his hand — though in a different direction. Now listed at number seven in the light heavyweight rankings despite competing primarily at middleweight, the Brazilian has called out Josh Hockit for a BMF belt fight. Costa carries genuine striking credentials wherever he competes, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
In a lighter aside, Sean O'Malley has reportedly been struggling to come to terms with Jiri Prochazka's most recent loss. Prochazka, the Czech Republic's 33-year-old ranked second at light heavyweight, carries a 32-6-1 record and a reputation as one of the division's most dynamic finishers, landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute with an 80-inch reach — making the defeat a difficult result for many fans to process.
Why it matters
- Holland's public Chimaev refusal keeps a potential welterweight rematch firmly off the table
- Allen's sparring visit to Chimaev's camp adds genuine intrigue to a potential middleweight matchup
- Costa's light heavyweight callout signals he may be pursuing opportunities above his primary division
- Ulberg targeting Ankalaev sets up a high-stakes first title defense in a competitive 205-pound landscape
