Jacobe Smith has unfinished business with Kevin Holland — and he wants to settle it violently.
The undefeated Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight prospect moved to 13-0 by demolishing late-notice replacement Bruce Whitehead in just 92 seconds at UFC 332 last weekend (Sat., Oct. 3, 2026) inside Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah (watch highlights).
Smith slammed Whitehead to the canvas and knocked him unconscious with brutal ground-and-pound, improving his UFC record to 4-0 with four
finishes.
However, “Cobe” was supposed to receive a much bigger test against Holland.
Smith and “Trailblazer” were first scheduled to fight at UFC Oklahoma City in July. Unfortunately, Holland suffered an injury and pulled out a week before the fight, forcing the entire matchup to be scrapped and leaving Smith without an opponent in his home state.
The Welterweight clash was then rescheduled for an unknown date (possibly UFC 332), but Holland withdrew again because of a foot injury. Smith eventually accepted a fight with Whitehead in Utah.
After being dragged through two separate training camps without getting the fight, Smith is ready to make Holland pay.
“I want to kill Kevin Holland,” Smith told UFC.com after his win. “I want to murder Kevin Holland. He put me through two fight camps. I’m setting up my life outside of fighting, too, and for me to put that on pause to set up a fight, and then you cancel the fight week and get us to reschedule — you accepted two times, and then you don’t show up to Utah.”
Making matters worse, Holland has already accepted another fight.
The 33-year-old fan favorite is scheduled to battle dangerous knockout artist Uros Medic at UFC 334 on Nov. 14, 2026, inside Madison Square Garden in New York City.
That booking left Smith wondering how Holland could be healthy enough to accept another opponent after withdrawing from their matchup.
“Your foot’s still hurt, but you’re accepting fights with other dudes,” Smith said. “You better hope Uros Medic gets your ass out of there, because if you win, I’m coming for you.”
Smith’s obsession with Holland did not come out of nowhere. After destroying Josiah Harrell at UFC Houston earlier this year (watch highlights), the former NCAA Division I wrestler specifically called out “Trailblazer” after UFC commentator Daniel Cormier told him Holland would “whoop his ass.”
Holland accepted, but eight months and two abandoned training camps later, the two Welterweights have still not shared the Octagon.
If Holland survives Medic next month, perhaps UFC will try booking the fight for a third time.
Something tells me Smith will show up.
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