UFC Fight Night 262: Holland vs. Malott takes place on October 18, 2025, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada. The featured welterweight bout pits established UFC veteran Kevin Holland against surging Canadian contender Mike Malott in a stylistic battle between unpredictable creativity and calculated aggression. Both men are aiming to break into the top 15, with a strong performance likely setting up a ranked opponent next.
Kevin Holland
Kevin “Trailblazer” Holland (28–14, 1 NC) remains one of the UFC’s most active and entertaining fighters. Known for his high fight IQ, playful in-cage personality, and willingness to take short-notice bouts, Holland has become a fan favorite. Since debuting in 2018, he has competed in both middleweight and welterweight, earning memorable wins over Vicente Luque, Michael Chiesa, and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
Holland brings elite length, unpredictable striking, and an underrated submission game—nine career submission victories, including three brabo/D’Arce chokes, the second-most in UFC history. Even in losses to high-level opposition like Reinier de Ridder and Daniel Rodriguez, Holland demonstrated toughness and resilience against elite competition.
Kevin Holland – Last 5 Fights:
1. Loss – Daniel Rodriguez | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 318 | July 19, 2025
2. Win – Vicente Luque | Submission (Brabo Choke) | UFC 316 | June 7, 2025
3. Win – Gunnar Nelson | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC FN 255 | March 22, 2025
4. Loss – Reinier de Ridder | Submission (RNC) | UFC 311 | Jan 18, 2025
5. Loss – Roman Dolidze | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | UFC 307 | Oct 5, 2024
Keys to Victory:
Holland must use his 81-inch reach to dictate range and frustrate Malott with volume striking. His unpredictable offense—front kicks, elbows, and sneaky submissions—could expose Malott’s defensive gaps during transitions or scrambles.
Mike Malott
Mike “Proper” Malott (12–2–1) enters UFC Vancouver looking to make a statement in front of a home crowd. The 33-year-old Canadian from Burlington, Ontario, has impressed since joining the UFC, earning multiple Performance of the Night bonuses with first-round finishes. A Team Alpha Male standout, Malott combines sharp boxing with smooth grappling transitions, backed by six career submission wins.
Malott’s recent run includes stoppages of Adam Fugitt and Yohan Lainesse, and a rebound victory over Trevin Giles following his lone UFC loss to veteran Neil Magny. His composed pressure and finishing instincts make him one of Canada’s most promising welterweights.
Mike Malott – Last 5 Fights:
1. Win – Charles Radtke | KO (Punches) | UFC 315 | May 10, 2025
2. Win – Trevin Giles | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC FN 246 | Nov 2, 2024
3. Loss – Neil Magny | TKO (Punches) | UFC 297 | Jan 20, 2024
4. Win – Adam Fugitt | Submission (Guillotine) | UFC 289 | June 10, 2023
5. Win – Yohan Lainesse | Submission (Arm-Triangle) | UFC FN: Muniz vs. Allen | Feb 25, 2023
Keys to Victory:
Malott needs to close distance, work behind his jab, and look for entries into clinches and takedowns. He’s most dangerous when maintaining forward pressure and mixing strikes with grappling, especially in early exchanges where his timing and power are sharpest.
Fight Breakdown
This matchup features two dangerous finishers with different philosophies. Holland thrives in chaos—using range, creativity, and improvisation to force mistakes—while Malott prefers structure, pressuring his opponent and hunting for clean finishes.
Expect Holland to set an early tempo with leg kicks and long jabs, keeping Malott outside and forcing him to shoot or blitz forward. Malott will look to crash the pocket, land power shots, and possibly drag the fight to the mat, where his top control and guillotine threats shine.
However, Holland’s experience against top-tier opponents, coupled with his length and opportunistic grappling, make him dangerous in prolonged exchanges. The key question is whether Malott can handle Holland’s pace and unpredictability if the fight extends past the first round.
Prediction
Malott’s early pressure could make the opening minutes risky for Holland, but the veteran’s composure, creativity, and submission instincts give him multiple paths to victory. Expect Holland to weather the early storm, use his range to frustrate Malott, and capitalize on a scramble with a slick submission finish.
Prediction: Kevin Holland def. Mike Malott via Submission (Round 2)
A victory would rejuvenate Holland’s push toward the welterweight top 10, while an upset from Malott could establish him as Canada’s breakout contender and earn him a ranked opponent in early 2026.