Report: Kevin Holland bounced from UFC Vegas 16 main event following positive COVID-19 test

The upcoming UFC Vegas 16 card will be getting its third different main event after Kevin Holland tested positive for COVID-19, per a report by ESPN’s Ariel Helwani.

Holland, who was filling in for an injured Darren Till, was expected to meet Jack Hermansson in the headlining act. As a result of Holland’s withdrawal, UFC officials are now targeting a new main event between “Joker” and Marvin Vetorri, who is currently scheduled to fight Ronaldo Souza at UFC 256 on Dec. 12. Those plans have yet to be finalized.

Holland, 28, was hoping to take this opportunity to prove he’s a top 10 fighter in the UFC’s middleweight division. Since making his debut back in 2018, “Trail Blazer” has produced a 7-2 record with key wins over Joaquin Buckley, Darren Stewart, Gerald Meerschaert, and Alessio Di Chirico. Holland has only come up short against Thiago Santos in his Octagon debut and Brendan Allen via submission last year. He will have to wait to get his chance at the top 10 sometime in 2021.

Holland posted the following message to social media after finding out he will not be competing next weekend at UFC Vegas 16:

“I have been pulled from my main event bout next weekend due to a positive pre fight covid test. Hoping to test clean and get back inside the cage ASAP.”

UFC Vegas 16 will take place on Dec. 5 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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