MIAMI – Santiago Ponzinibbio is not interested in fighting Kevin Holland at middleweight.
Ponzinibbio (29-6 MMA, 11-5 UFC) meets Holland (23-9 MMA, 10-6 UFC) in a welterweight bout on Saturday’s UFC 287 main card at Kaseya Center. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
Holland sent Ponzinibbio a private message on Instagram, suggesting the pair fight at 185 pounds instead of cutting to the 171-pound welterweight limit. While Holland likes to joke around, Ponzinibbio wasn’t having any of it.
“If you don’t know, we signed a contract,” Ponzinibbio told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during Wednesday’s UFC 287 media day. “The contract says the weight. If he wants to change the weight, he needs to before he signs the contract. I don’t care, man. We can talk about everything, just everything about money. If you put money, we talking. I don’t have problem. But he signed a paper that says 170. I don’t care what he’s talking. F*ck it.”
Once the owner of one of the longest winning streaks at welterweight, Ponzinibbio is eager to regain top contention status. Although he recently snapped a two-fight losing skid with a knockout of Alex Morono at UFC 282, he wants his name in title conversations with a win over Holland.
“I won nine fights in my last 12, two split decisions (losses), close fights with tough guys, always fighting with tough guys,” Ponzinibbio said. “Again, they give me a big name. I think Kevin Holland is a very tough guy and one of the biggest names in the company. A good victory over him, they’re gonna put me in the conversation for the title.
“I feel I have everything to have my chance for the belt and be champion of the world. I’ve been working for that. I take the challenges the UFC gives me. I didn’t ask for this fight, they came with this fight, I say of course yes. I know this is a challenge, I know this guy is tough. But I know I’m ready to finish him and to show the world I’m ready to be in the best welterweights, and I’m ready to take my opportunity for the belt.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 287.
