Jorge Masvidal and Kevin Holland were separated by security after a verbal altercation at a hotel ahead of their respective fights at UFC 287.
Jorge Masvidal and Kevin Holland may not be fighting each other, but they nearly got UFC 287 started a few days early in Miami. The welterweights had to be separated by security at the host hotel on Wednesday, although it appears there was no physical encounter, but rather just a verbal altercation. A short video surfaced on social media showing the fighters shouting at each other, with UFC security keeping them far apart.
There has been no explanation regarding the cause of the incident, but sources have categorized the altercation as “nothing major” and stated that no punches were thrown by the fighters. The UFC security was reportedly already aware of some simmering tension between Holland and Masvidal and had taken steps to ensure they didn’t get too close to each other ahead of their respective fights on Saturday. Following the altercation, Holland released a video addressing the incident, although it doesn’t appear there will be any repercussions for the fighters. “Let me just go ahead and say it, that video’s going to come out, and then they’re probably going to do an opponent change again! F***!” Holland said on Instagram.
As of now, no changes have been made to either fight involving Holland or Masvidal at UFC 287. Both fighters are competing on the main card on Saturday: Miami’s own Masvidal fights at home in the co-main event against Gilbert Burns, while Holland clashes with Santiago Ponzinibbio in another bout on the pay-per-view broadcast. It’s likely safe to assume that the UFC will work hard to ensure Holland and Masvidal don’t get too close to each other during the rest of the week. However, both are slated to appear at the pre-fight press conference scheduled on Thursday at 5 p.m. ET.