10 Best Performances of Max Holloway’s Career, Ranked By Skill

Highlights

• Max Holloway proved himself as one of the best featherweights in the UFC, with unstoppable dynamism and fluidity in his fights.
• His dominant performances against top fighters like Yair Rodriguez and Arnold Allen showcased his mastery in striking and control.
• Holloway’s relentless pressure and technique have earned him multiple UFC records, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest fighters.

When it comes to the best featherweights in the UFC, it’s hard to deny Max Holloway his flowers. The Hawaiian is arguably the best to ever do it, ranking alongside the likes of Alexander Volkanovski for his accomplishments.

Now that UFC 300 is over, folks are seeing new dimensions to him as a lightweight as well. No matter what, Holloway’s dynamism, fluidity and ability to control the distance with punches and kicks are untouchable. With that in mind, here are Holloway’s best performances in what is still a budding MMA career.

10 Max Holloway Clubbed Yair Rodriguez

“Blessed” Demolished “El Pantera” In Style

Holloway needed a big win to get back to Volkanovski’s belt after two losses. 2021 offered that with Yair Rodriguez, someone considered one of the best strikers around. However, Holloway shut that notion down with am emphatic, finessed performance over five rounds.

It was a masterclass in boxing, leg kicks and cardio. Holloway won by a unanimous decision and got another shot at the strap. It’s one of those performances where Rodriguez looked ordinary — a rare feat.

9 Max Holloway Tuned Up Arnold Allen

“Blessed” Taught The “Almighty” A Lesson

After losing convincingly to “Volk” on the third attempt, many wrote Holloway off. The UFC seemed intent on making him a gatekeeper or phasing him out by feeding him to young lions. England’s Arnold Allen was just that: a hot prospect who could strike and grapple.

However, Holloway did what he did to Rodriguez. He dominated Allen for five rounds. It wasn’t until the end that Allen had a flurry which made Holloway look somewhat human. This result left Allen needing to restructure his game to be more aggressive, whereas Holloway looked like a seasoned veteran aging like fine wine.

8 Max Holloway Retired Jung Chan-sung

“Blessed” Ended The “Korean Zombie”

Holloway was chosen for Korean Zombie’s retirement fight. There was no trash talk, just love and respect. But when the cage closed, “Blessed” went to work with ferocity against one of his heroes.

He battered Zombie in the third, dropping him with an overhead right. The Korean went out on his shield, but also, on his face. As bittersweet as it was, it was business as usual, with yet another dominating night at the office.

7 Max Holloway Strangled Cub Swanson

Holloway took Cub Swanson on early in his career. Holloway was just 23 and gave Swanson a remarkable fight that consisted of wrestling, as well as tremendous body work. Holloway almost won the fight with an arm triangle.

However, when that didn’t work, he rejigged the plan. He dropped Swanson in the third and applied a quick guillotine to submit him. It was his sixth straight win and began to put him on course for a title shot.

6 Max Holloway Broke Anthony Pettis

“Blessed” Showed “Showtime” Who Was King

Holloway eventually got a crack at the interim featherweight gold against Anthony Pettis — a former WEC and UFC lightweight champion. Pettis was known as a skilled kick boxer, but Holloway was just more attuned that night.

Holloway unleashed a barrage of kicks and punches, pinning Pettis up against the fence. He dropped the shelled-up Pettis down, making him crouch as he showed no mercy. Holloway won it in the third. It was even more special as Pettis came in overweight by three pounds. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

5 Max Holloway Schooled Brian Ortega

“Blessed” Even Taught Ortega How To Defend

Holloway was taking on all comers as he defended his belt. Many thought the submission specialist, Brian Ortega, might pose a problem. But “Blessed” smashed Ortega, leaving him bloodied and bruised in a harsh massacre. He even felt sorry, holding up Ortega’s hands to show him how to defend punches mid-fight.

The doctor stopped things in the fourth. Holloway broke the record for most significant strikes in one fight with 290, broke the record for landing 134 of those significant strikes in a round, and set the record for most victories in UFC featherweight history with fifteen. He’d end up breaking the strikes’ record himself later on.

4 Max Holloway Shut Down Jose Aldo

“Blessed” Stole The Throne From The “King of Rio”

The fearless Holloway unified the belt by stopping Jose Aldo in the third via TKO (punches) at UFC 212. This was one of Holloway’s most clinical, coldest performances in enemy territory in Brazil. Aldo tried but couldn’t deal with Holloway’s footwork, movement and stance-switching.

Holloway kept Aldo at bay, made him look elementary with his roundhouse kicks. He showed that he could penetrate Aldo’s defense with ease. He timed everything to perfection, ending things with vicious ground-and-pound.

3 Max Holloway Pummeled Jose Aldo A Second Time

“Blessed” Repeated His Hawaiian Magic

The indomitable Holloway got a second crack at Aldo at UFC 218. He wanted to show it wasn’t luck. But the round and result were the same. Holloway tuned up Aldo like a boss.

He teed off whenever he wanted, wherever he wanted. Holloway was quick, sharp and so prescient, one had to wonder if Aldo was that slow or Holloway was that good. This elevated Holloway above Aldo in the GOAT conversation.

2 Max Holloway Punished Calvin Kattar

“Blessed” Beat Up Boston’s Best

Holloway made Calvin Kattar his first victim after the two losses to “Volk.” He smashed him up for five rounds and sent him to the hospital. This proved Holloway was the best boxer in the UFC and that, sometimes, coaches needed to throw in the towel. With no white flag raised, a vocal Holloway had 445 significant strikes landed in the fight and 141 landed in round four. He won via unanimous decision.

Holloway set the UFC single-fight records for total strikes landed and attempted, significant strikes landed and attempted, strike differential, distance strikes landed, significant head strikes landed and significant body strikes landed. His fourth round also set the record for strikes and significant strikes landed. No wonder he showboated to the commentary team.

1 Max Holloway Cracked Justin Gaethje

“Blessed” Proved He Was The True “Highlight”

Justin Gaethje is accustomed putting people in highlight reels with his punches and kicks. This time, Holloway did that to him. For five rounds, Holloway bruised and cracked Gaethje at will. He was precise, powerful and even called Gaethje out to the center of the UFC 300 octagon.

An overhead right dropped Gaethje unconscious, face-first to the canvas. It was at the bell, proving Holloway could hang at lightweight. It’s one of the UFC’s best knockouts, gifting Holloway the BMF title. This set up Holloway to reclaim featherweight gold from Ilia Topuria.