Kevin Holland, the UFC’s resident “Large Mouth” and Texas transplant, has a message for the Lone Star State: legalize marijuana, or don’t anticipate to see him combating there anytime quickly. Kevin Holland isn’t simply throwing punches – he’s throwing down an ultimatum. The selection is easy: let him mild up, or he’ll maintain combating, and successful, wherever however dwelling.
Kevin Holland to Texas: Legalize Weed If You Need Me within the Octagon”
The UFC welterweight contender, who’s as well-known for his rapid-fire trash speak as he’s for his willingness to scrap on a second’s discover, not too long ago put it bluntly: “Till Texas figures out their legalization of marijuana, it’s form of onerous for me to battle there. They don’t need you to smoke an entire month out from the battle, and that’s simply tough. I nonetheless have a life to reside, so I obtained to smoke my weed.”
Kevin Holland’s not simply blowing smoke, he’s useless critical about his stance, even when he delivers it with a wink and a smile. Holland’s loyalty to Texas is plain. He’s fast to shout out his roots in California, however he claims Texas as dwelling, splitting his time between Dallas-Fort Price and Houston. “It’s nice to have love within the DFW. I really feel like I symbolize Texas fairly nicely, not simply the DFW as a result of I’m all the time in Houston as nicely. By no means going to take something away from being a California boy, however I’m for certain a Texas man.”
Nonetheless, Texas’ marijuana coverage is a sticking level. The Texas Division of Licensing and Regulation enforces a zero-tolerance coverage for THC, punishing athletes who take a look at above 50 ng/ml, no matter whether or not the UFC itself has relaxed its hashish guidelines. For fighters like Holland, who see hashish as part of each day life, that’s a deal-breaker.
This isn’t only a Holland drawback. The UFC, since 2021, has stopped penalizing fighters for marijuana use until there’s proof of in-competition impairment. However state commissions like Texas haven’t caught up, and meaning fighters have to decide on between their habits and their paychecks. Nate Diaz bumped into the identical buzzkill earlier than his boxing match in Dallas, joking about shifting the battle to a friendlier state after his marijuana exemption was denied. Even UFC commentator Joe Rogan has roasted Texas’ “backward” hashish legal guidelines, mentioning the hypocrisy of banning weed whereas alcohol flows freely.
In the meantime, Kevin Holland’s not letting Texas’ guidelines sluggish him down wherever else. The 32-year-old has turn into one of many UFC’s most entertaining and lively fighters, bouncing between welterweight and middleweight, and combating anybody, wherever, anytime. Since debuting in 2018, Holland has racked up 27 wins, 13 losses, and a popularity for ending fights – 13 by knockout and 4 by submission. He famously gained 5 UFC bouts in seven months, a stretch that noticed him KO future contender Anthony Hernandez in beneath a minute.
This weekend, Kevin Holland’s again in motion at UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey, dealing with Vicente Luque on the principle card. It’s his third battle of 2025, coming off a rebound win over Gunnar Nelson in March after a tricky submission loss to Reinier de Ridder in January. The stakes are excessive: Holland is the betting favourite, however Luque’s wrestling may pose issues for the lanky Texan, who’s struggled with takedown protection prior to now. Nonetheless, Holland’s peak, attain, and unpredictable model make him a risk to anybody who stands throughout from him.
So, Texas, the ball’s in your courtroom. In order for you your adopted son to placed on a present in entrance of the house crowd, it is perhaps time to replace these hashish legal guidelines. Till then, Holland will maintain combating, and lighting up, in every single place else.
