Kevin Holland injured, out of UFC on ESPN 9 bout with Daniel Rodriguez

Kevin Holland will no longer be competing this Saturday.

Sources confirmed to MMA Fighting that an undisclosed injury has forced Holland to withdraw from his scheduled welterweight bout with Daniel Rodriguez at UFC on ESPN 9.

News of Holland’s scratch was first reported by MMA Junkie.

The 27-year-old was looking to join a short list of fighters to pick up two UFC wins in a 14-day span. Holland picked up a first-round TKO finish of Anthony Hernandez at UFC on ESPN 8 on May 16. “Trailblazer” was a guest on this past week’s What the Heck and confirmed his desire to get right back in the octagon at 185, or 170.

Holland took to Instagram on Tuesday morning to express his disappointment.

“Sorry to everyone who was looking forward to the scrap,” Holland said on his IG story. “I’ve done this rehab before and I hope to run through it as I did the last time. We will be back. First thing’s first, getting back healthy.”

Rodriguez has won his last seven fights, including his successful UFC debut. “D-Rod,” who picked up a victory on Dana White’s Contender Series this past July, got a short-notice call to face veteran Tim Means at UFC Rio Rancho. The 33-year-old picked up a second-round submission win and has become a fighter to watch in a loaded welterweight division.

UFC on ESPN 9 likely emanates from the UFC APEX and will be headlined by a pivotal 170-pound contest between Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns.