Kevin Holland, Derek Brunson Agree to Headline UFC Fight Night on March 20

While Kevin Holland may be seeking a spot as a short-notice replacement next month, he has something more official lined up for March.

According to ESPN, Holland and Derek Brunson have agreed to square off in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card on March 20. The middleweight bout has not been finalized but contracts are expected to be signed shortly. The event does not yet have a location.

In the meantime, Holland has been campaigning for a spot opposite Leon Edwards on the UFC’s Jan. 20 “Fight Island” card. Edwards was scheduled to face Khamzat Chimaev, but Chimaev withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons. Holland has yet to fight at welterweight in the Las Vegas-based promotion.

Hold up, so am I hearing the #ufcFightIsland hotel has a vacancy and needs a real man to come and do work January 20th? #callbigmouth pic.twitter.com/0zX4cPZMvo

— Kevin Holland (@Trailblaze2top) December 29, 2020

Holland was selected as Sherdog.com’s ”Breakthrough Fighter of the Year” after posting a 5-0 mark in UFC competition this year. “Trailblazer” concluded that memorable campaign with a first-round knockout of Ronaldo Souza at UFC 256 on Dec. 12.

A veteran of 17 UFC bouts, Brunson enters the matchup with Holland on a three-fight winning streak. After scoring back-to-back decision triumphs against Elias Theodorou and Ian Heinisch in 2019, the North Carolina native defeated highly-touted prospect Edmen Shahbazyan by third-round TKO in the UFC Fight Night 172 headliner on Aug. 1.