Undefeated Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight Jacobe Smith has made it clear that his ongoing feud with Kevin Holland extends far beyond professional rivalry. Following a series of canceled bouts and a barrage of provocative private messages, Smith believes that any future encounter between the two fighters outside the Octagon could quickly escalate into a physical altercation.
Smith and Holland had originally been booked to settle their differences inside the Octagon at UFC Oklahoma City in July. When that matchup fell through, the promotion rescheduled the pairing for UFC 332 on October 3 in Salt Lake City. However, injuries forced Holland to withdraw on both occasions, leaving Smith frustrated and empty-handed after twice preparing for a high-profile test.
Jacobe Smith Discusses Kevin Holland’s Alleged Direct Messages After Two Canceled UFC Figs
The undefeated rising star, who carries a pristine 13-0 professional record, maintains that securing a victory over Holland is a personal priority. Beyond establishing himself as the superior martial artist inside the cage, Smith claims that Holland’s behavior in digital communications has added fuel to the fire, predicting that their paths will eventually cross in a volatile setting.
"I’ll never like him; I want that win on my record just to tell him I’m the big dog here," Smith said in an interview with Full Send MMA. "Put some respect on my name… I see us crossing paths outside of the cage and there being an altercation because of how he’s in the DMs. And the sh*t that he be talking. He didn’t do it face-to-face like that."
The animosity stems from the repeated collapse of their scheduled fights and what Smith perceives as a discrepancy between Holland’s online persona and his in-person demeanor. For a competitor striving to build momentum in the talent-rich welterweight division, the inability to step into the cage with a well-known veteran like Holland has proven deeply aggravating.
Smith, widely known by his nickname "Cobe," has enjoyed a dominant run under the UFC banner since making his transition to the promotion. Thus far, he has finished all four of his opponents inside the Octagon, showcasing a lethal blend of grappling prowess and explosive striking that has put the rest of the 170-pound weight class on notice.
As he looks to continue his ascent, Smith must temporarily put his grievances with Holland on the back burner. "Cobe" is scheduled to return to action this Saturday at UFC Vegas 123, taking place at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. There, he will face a formidable and experienced test in Randy Brown, who enters the bout with a stellar 20-8 professional record. A victory over Brown would further validate Smith’s status as a legitimate contender and keep his undefeated streak intact.
Meanwhile, Kevin Holland finds himself on a different timeline as he navigates his own career trajectory within the promotion. Holland, boasting an experienced record of 29 wins, 15 losses, and 1 no-contest, has long been known as one of the most active and unpredictable fighters on the UFC roster. Following his withdrawals from the scheduled bouts against Smith, Holland has been booked to face Uros Medic, who holds a 14-3 record. That matchup is slated to take place at UFC 334 on November 14 at the historic Madison Square Garden in New York City.
While both athletes are currently focused on their respective upcoming assignments, the lingering tension between Smith and Holland shows no signs of dissipating. With Smith vocalizing his disdain and warning of potential real-world friction, the promotion and the MMA community will be watching closely to see if these two welterweights eventually find their way back to each other inside the Octagon—or if their paths cross somewhere unexpected before that can happen.
