Prediction: Kevin Holland (Winner)
Holland let a lot of people down with that last performance, but this matchup feels built for him to bounce back. Malott’s a dangerous dude, no question. He’s explosive, great timing early, and has that clean grappling base. But when you line their tools up side by side, Holland’s length, speed, and creativity on the feet just give him more ways to win.
The biggest thing here is range. Holland has a 81-inch reach and one of few fighter that now how to use his reach. When he’s fighting smart, he’ll snipe you from the outside, keep his jab active, and mix in those long kicks that frustrate guys who want to close distance. Malott’s going to have to crash the pocket, and that’s a dangerous game when Holland’s throwing straight down the pipe. Holland’s faster, slicker in exchanges, and his ability to counter while moving backward could end up being a nightmare for Malott.
Then there’s the grappling talk. Everyone points to Holland’s wrestling as his weak point, but that’s mostly been a problem against big, heavy middleweights who could muscle him around. At welterweight, he’s handled strong grapplers fine. He’s a legit black belt and he’s gotten much better about staying composed off his back. Malott’s got good submissions, but it’s not like he’s a relentless chain wrestler. He usually needs to hurt you or catch a slip to get it there. Against someone with Holland’s size and balance, that’s easier said than done.
The wild card is Holland’s mentality. He fights on pure vibes sometimes, and that can backfire. But stylistically, this is the kind of opponent he looks good against: someone who’s powerful but straightforward. Malott’s dangerous early, but if Holland keeps his range, picks him apart, and starts finding his rhythm, he can make this look easy.