​The injury bug has bitten UFC Oklahoma City hard, taking one of the promotion’s top names off the card with less than two weeks to go. Kevin Holland has withdrawn from his UFC Fight Night 281 welterweight bout against Jacobe Smith, which was scheduled for July 18 at the Paycom Center, due to an undisclosed injury. The UFC is actively looking for a replacement to step in for Holland.
Two people familiar with the situation told MMA Junkie of the lineup change on condition of anonymity because the promotion had not yet issued an official announcement. The report regarding Holland’s withdrawal was first shared by X user @realkevink.
Holland, who holds a 29-15 record in mixed martial arts with a 16-12 mark inside the UFC, has been one of the UFC’s most active competitors since his debut with the promotion in 2018. In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, he expressed a goal of fighting at least eight more times to tie Donald Cerrone for third place on the all-time appearances list. Holland most recently fought in April, earning a unanimous decision over Randy Brown to snap a two-fight skid.
Smith, a standout wrestler from Oklahoma State University, began his MMA career with some guidance from fellow alumnus Daniel Cormier. He quickly emerged as one of the United States’ most highly touted prospects, refining his skills under the tutelage of coach Sayif Saud at Fortis MMA. In the UFC, Smith has recorded finishes in all three of his appearances, with victories over Preston Parsons, Niko Price, and most recently Josiah Harrell.
The current lineup for UFC Oklahoma City includes Dricus Du Plessis versus Kamaru Usman, Jared Cannonier facing Christian Leroy Duncan, Jacobe Smith set to fight an opponent to be announced, and other on-card bouts featuring Chase Hooper versus Mitch Ramirez, Fatima Kline versus Tabatha Ricci, Tommy McMillen versus Alberto Montes, Dione Barbosa versus Anna Melisano, Austin Bashi versus Jose Delgado, Seok Hyeon Ko versus Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani, RJ Harris versus Alvin Hines, Felipe Franco versus Levi Rodrigues, and Alden Coria versus Stewart Nicoll.
This update follows the news that Kevin Holland has been removed from the Oklahoma City lineup due to an undisclosed injury, with the promotion actively seeking a replacement to keep the event’s welterweight showcase intact. The development comes as fans and bettors alike were looking forward to Holland’s return to action, given his reputation for being one of the fight game’s most relentless and entertaining competitors. With Holland out, the promotion’s search for a suitable substitute is a priority to ensure the Paycom Center card maintains its competitive balance and marketability.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie and has been expanded to meet SEO considerations for “UFC Oklahoma City loses Kevin Holland from lineup.” The broader context around Holland’s withdrawal and Smith’s rising profile adds depth to the evolving landscape of the event, highlighting how a single injury can ripple through a fight card and alter fight fan anticipation ahead of fight night.