Kevin Holland has a lot of respect for Ian Machado Garry, but thinks the UFC has special plans for him.
Garry (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) remained unbeaten when he scored a lopsided unanimous decision win over perennial welterweight contender Neil Magny less than two weeks ago at UFC 292 in Boston.
Holland (25-9 MMA, 11-6 UFC) praised Garry for his performance, but doesn’t see himself fighting the Irish rising star any time soon.
“I think he answered a lot of questions – looked really good,” Holland said on the “Believe You Me” podcast. “UFC says they have a blueprint for these guys to be something special when they have the Irish accent, so I think he’s on his way. I think it’s going to be wonderful.”
Garry has his sights set on former two-time UFC welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson. Meanwhile, Holland is booked against another rising contender in the division when he takes on Jack Della Maddalena (16-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in the co-main event of the inaugural Noche UFC event, which goes down at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“They have a blueprint for guys like that, and I don’t think I fit the blueprint,” Holland said. “I don’t think I fit the bill when it comes to what Ian Garry has planned and, you know, props to the guy. Nothing but respect.
“The dude’s 25 and he takes his career very, very seriously. When I was 25 years old, I really didn’t give two sh*ts about the career, so props to that guy. When I was 25, I wanted to make it, but didn’t really care if I did. He’s there and he’s taking advantage of it.”
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