That all said, it is the building nature of the champion’s game that makes him stand out from the rest of the UFC stable.Įmbodying a fighter archetype that I like to refer to as “a builder,” Holloway will not only build on his output, but his understanding of the fight’s traffic will also increase as he intelligently takes tools from his opponent and incorporates them into his game.įor example, against Ricardo Lamas, Holloway ate a healthy dose of leg kicks throughout their battle. Coupled with his ability to counter effectively from either stance, Holloway can hypothetically take a fight in many different directions. When feeling in stride, the 31-year-old looks to pay off his previous bodywork by punctuating his presence with everything from spinning sidekicks to digging left hooks to the liver.

Whether Holloway is shifting his stance mid-combination or adjusting his timing on the fly, the former featherweight kingpin makes for a hard read on the feet.

Since then, we have witnessed a technical evolution unfold from the Hawaiian, who embraces his creativity and range with a diverse arsenal of attacks. The main event on ESPN features a fantastic featherweight pairing between a volume-heavy Hawaiian and a savvy southpaw striker.ĭisplaying solid striking and footwork fundamentals since storming onto the UFC scene (as one of the promotion’s youngest signees, no less), Max Holloway, who was already improving from fight to fight, turned a big corner in his career after his encounter with Cub Swanson.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 29: (L-R) Arnold Allen of England punches Calvin Kattar in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on Octoin Las Vegas, Nevada.

Max holloway ufc