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Can Max Holloway Join the Featherweight Elite?
Mixed martial arts is an ever-growing dinner table.
Dressed with everything from one-bite appetizers to gut-quenching main courses, the collection of flavors and smells is quite spectacular. And in the sport of MMA, the UFC has gained a pretty good reputation as the most consistent caterer.
But like most things in life, we are always looking for the next great meal; something that is unlike the rest of our unappreciated pleasures. Luckily for fight fans, especially the ones who consider themselves masters of this unpredictable realm, the newest combat delicacy will be served up for free this Sunday at UFC Fight Night 74 when Max Holloway aims to devour Charles Oliveira.
As a 23-year-old featherweight from the island of Waianae, Hawaii, Holloway is beginning to elevate his presence within the sport, let alone one of the most exciting and volatile divisions in the game today.
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Reminiscent of fellow Hawaiian B.J. Penn, Holloway began his professional journey relatively early. At just 20 years of age, he made his Octagon debut against the always-formidable Dustin Poirier at UFC 143. Holloway ultimately lost that fight via first-round submission, but it sparked a career that has undeservedly flown under the radar.
More than three years later, the No. 5 ranked featherweight has a chance to win his seventh-straight Octagon appearance since the start of 2014. But in a weight class ruled by pound-for-pound kings, Irish heroes, and former UFC champions, does Holloway have what it takes to join such an illustrious group of combatants?
People will look at his resume and scoff at recent wins over Will Chope and Clay Collard as means of Holloway earning his 145-pound VIP pass. But it has been the striker's evolution, maturity and ability to finish of late that suggest he's capable of joining the likes of Jose Aldo, Conor McGregor, Chad Mendes and Frankie Edgar entering 2016.
Of course, a submission victory over Cub Swanson at UFC on Fox 15 certainly helps the youngster's cause, as well as being the only man to ever take McGregor the distance.
When we take a closer look at Holloway's output and production inside of the cage throughout his 12-fight UFC career, the numbers actually indicate that he has already earned the right to be considered an elite featherweight.
Even as a striker renowned as one of the most offensively aggressive fighters in the division, Holloway's 69.7 percent strike defense is second only to that of champion Jose Aldo's 69.9 percent (according to FightMetric.com). That means that despite all of the unorthodox spinning backfists, flying knees, and wild combinations that Holloway loves to throw, he's still one of the best defenders on the feet.
Add in his third-best 5.27 strikes landed per minute, and you have one of the most well rounded strikers the division has to offer. One who has only been out-struck twice in his entire UFC career (by McGregor and Justin Lawrence).
Going even further into the rabbit hole, we start to appreciate the other facets of Holloway's arsenal. This includes a more than worthy 76.6 percent takedown defense and an evolving grappling game that is heightened by the Hawaiian's natural dexterity, scrambling ability, and an offensively clad guard.
Needless to say, the tools are there for Holloway to manifest greatness inside of the cage. He is by no means a perfect fighter, but with a knack for creating distance, landing in bunches, and surviving heavy blows to the chin, Holloway is a quintessential x-factor.
The public notoriety and international exposure that follows the likes of McGregor certainly eludes a quiet punisher like “Blessed,” but another marquee main event this weekend will give Holloway the opportunity to generate his own fortune.
A decisive finish over a red-hot Oliveira would be the hand that slaps the doubters about the face and propels an up-and-coming contender to the front of the line.
(Follow Daniel Hiergesell @DH_MMA on Twitter)
