Kevin Holland vs Mike Malott Predictions, Picks & Odds

Kevin Holland looks to rebound while Mike Malott aims to push him further down the ladder, and their welterweight class is the co-main event of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night.

Here are my free UFC Fight Night: Holland vs. Malott predictions for this October 18 tilt.

Holland vs Malott prediction and best bet

• My fight prediction: Malott ML (-115 at BET99)
  
  
• My best bet: Malott ML (-115 at BET99)

Fight analysis
We’re getting to the point in Kevin Holland’s career where we're already talking about how he could have been a contender.

After another instance of Holland snatching defeat from the jaws of victory — this time against Daniel Rodriguez — Holland is on the verge of fully dropping down to journeyman status against Mike Malott.

Holland’s decline comes from being busy for the sake of being busy, hoping to refine his lacking skills on the fly, and he’s at the point where a sure-thing outcome is now anyone’s guess.  

That’s not a slight on Malott, who is on a two-fight winning streak and fighting as the hometown hero. He’s tough, technically sound, and is a strong grappler, which are all of the things you need to beat Holland.

Malott doesn’t have Holland’s striking flair, but he’s physically strong, patient, and has the striking chops to contend with him in the stand-up. 

Malott’s superior positioning and submission instincts can flip the fight quickly, and with him landing 2.08 takedowns per fight, there’s a solid chance he’s putting Holland on the mat once he decides to abandon his eight-inch reach advantage.

Holland is constantly getting in his own way by getting suckered into grappling exchanges, abandoning his striking, and making generally poor decisions that make this a critical fight for him.

Rodriguez outstruck him and dropped him twice. Two fights ago, he was taken down three times by Gunnar Nelson in his first fight back after two years.

All the things that made Holland dangerous are now moot points as he constantly makes strategic errors that doom him, and it’s hard to bet on him at this point.

It’s not that Holland can’t win, because if Neil Magny could hang in there with Malott and stop him, so could the more explosive Holland.

Malott is going to want it more and is less likely to make a mistake that could lead to an opportunity. Considering Malott is a strong finisher and won’t back down from Holland, that might be all the edge he’ll need.

Best bet analysis
At this point in his career, Holland finds ways to lose, and Malott is the wrong opponent to make mistakes against.

If Holland can’t keep this fight at a distance, Malott is going to put him on the ground and make him pay. I wouldn’t be surprised if Malott hurts Holland with a big shot and potentially gets in position to submit him, and I do think Holland’s best days are behind him.

That being said, Malott on the moneyline is the best bet for the fight.

Kevin Holland vs Mike Malott odds

Method of Victory	Holland	Malott
To win outright	-105	-115
To win by KO/TKO	+400	+500
To win by decision	+320	+325
To win by submission	+575	+390
Draw	+5000	+5000

Odds as of 10-18.

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Kevin Holland vs Mike Malott tale of the tape

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