Max Holloway Is A Man Amongst Boys
(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) via mmasucka.com
Max Holloway’s performance at the latest UFC Fight Night was dominant enough to tie the record for the most lopsided five-round fight in UFC history.
Holloway defeated Calvin Kattar in a unanimous decision with the score cards reading 50-42.
Beating the living shit out of Kattar was impressive as it is, but Holloway took things a step further. The former featherweight champion literally turned to the commentating crew MID-FIGHT to yell “I’m the best boxer in the UFC!” while simultaneously landing jabs on Kattar’s bloodied face.
What a nut. I love it.
Considering this took place in the 5th round of a beat down, I can’t decide what’s more impressive -- Kattar’s iron chin or Holloway’s never-ending stamina.
Holloway looked completely unfazed by anything Kattar was trying to throw at him, almost as if he was toying with him.
At that point in the fight it seemed like all physical ability went out the window, and Holloway dominated the mental warfare. If you aren’t on your game against a guy like Holloway, you’re going to get exposed for any and every weakness you have, which is exactly what happened.
To show just how dominant of a performance Holloway had, let’s take a look at all the single-fight records he broke:
Significant strikes landed: 445 (previously 290)
Significant strike attempts: 744 (previously 515)
Distance strikes landed: 439 (previously 281)
Significant head strikes landed: 274 (previously 244)
Significant strikes in a singular round: 141 (previously 134)
Total strikes landed: 447 (previously 361)
Holloway didn’t just break these records, he shattered them.
This is not meant to be a ding on Kattar in any way, he is a phenomenal fighter climbing his way up the UFC ranks the old fashioned way. Kattar has headlined three of his last four UFC bouts including notable victories over Dan Ige and Jeremy Stephens.
Don’t let this performance put you off of Kattar, he is still a top-10 featherweight no questions about it. There was just something about Holloway that night that made him impossible to beat.
All things considered this was sweet, sweet revenge for Holloway, not so much for beating Kattar, but for sending a metaphorical middle finger to the UFC judges for robbing him of a victory over Alexander Volkanovski in his last bout.
I don’t care what it takes, the people NEED a Holloway vs Volkanovski 3. Get it done, Dana.
There has been some recent controversy whether or not Holloway has begun a decline in his fighting career, which is probably why he was so pissed against Kattar.
It blows my mind that people dare to doubt Holloway. The same guy who has never been knocked out in a UFC fight, the same guy with the most wins and KOs in featherweight history, the same guy who defended his championship belt three times, and last but not least, the same guy that won 13 consecutive UFC bouts.
Calvin Kattar said it best in his post-fight interviews: “If you ain’t a Max Holloway fan, you’re a hater. Kid’s a beast. Did what he had to do. Good luck to him, and hopefully the champ next, because he deserves another shot.”
If you thought Holloway was done... grow up. He’ll be back fighting for a belt in no time.