LAS VEGAS – Kurt Holobaugh has seen a lot throughout his 10-year-plus career fighting professionally in MMA. However, one thing that’s eluded him all these years has been a spot in the UFC official rankings.
The 38-year-old lightweight veteran is looking to crack the top 15 of the UFC rankings as his next career goal, and he thinks he’s got the perfect opportunity to close in on that goal. Holobaugh (22-8 MMA, 2-5 UFC) takes on Alexander Hernandez on the main card of UFC Fight Night 255 (ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex.
“Big fight,” Holobaugh said at Wednesday’s media day. “I feel like a guy like me that’s been in the UFC for quite a while, I want those type of fights. Whenever the UFC gave me that name, I was more than happy to take it, knowing it was going to be a tough test, but if I can go out there and get a win over a guy like Alex, I think that says a lot. I think that says I truly belong in the UFC.”
Holobaugh is coming off a unanimous decision win over Kaynan Kruschewsky last July. He’s also 4-1 in his past five outings. Holobaugh believes a win over Hernandez (15-8 MMA, 7-7 UFC) on Saturday puts him on track to get ranked.
“I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot, winning the Contender Series, getting a contract; winning The Ultimate Fighter, getting a contract – but I still want more,” Holobaugh said. “I think that, for me right now, is that I want to have a ranking next to my name. I think that it’s possible.
“I think that I can go out and with a win over Alex – maybe a fight or two, it always depends on the way fights a fall-out – all it’s going to take is one win over a top-15 guy to fall out or need an opponent and me to say, ‘Well, I’m willing to take that fight.’ Very similar to Alex when he stepped in to fight (Beneil) Dariush. He stepped in and fought a ranked guy and beat him, and got a ranking. I think that’s possible for me as well.”
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