Max Holloway Series: Balance and Volume (2)

When observing Holloway’s punching technique, one can see a clean execution with minimal wasted motion and unnecessary exertion of force. In reality, Holloway possesses an excellent ability to deliver damage with minimal force.

Utilizing the recoil snap of the hip joint—commonly referred to as twitching, which is a sudden contraction in the context of motion—combined with withdrawing power from the forearm, Holloway can whip his opponents with whip-like strikes from a very short trajectory in front of his body. His whip motion is so concise and effective that he can accumulate significant damage on his opponents without compromising his balance and timing of offensive transitions.

Opponents struck by Holloway’s sharp shots often experience substantial impact from his fast-paced punches delivered at close range, resulting in visible deterioration of their facial features over time.

There’s a common misconception about Holloway having subpar punching power. However, in reality, compared to other fighters, Holloway’s ability to deliver damage through his punches is quite impressive, considering he doesn’t exert excessive force when throwing punches. Instead, he relies on just enough rotation of the hip joint and relaxation and snap of the upper body to effectively utilize punching mechanics. For fighters like Holloway, who rely heavily on volume punching, punching power isn’t a significant concern.

Holloway understands that he can inflict significant damage on his opponents through a high volume of punches and body shots. Therefore, rather than relying solely on raw power that consumes considerable energy and slows down follow-up movements, Holloway favors a punching style that is heavily dependent on dynamics and weight transfer mechanisms. He compensates for any potential lack of finishing power by overwhelming his opponents with a high volume of strikes instead.

Recent drives behind Max’s high finishing rates paradoxically stem from his tendency to throw punches without harboring a big finishing ambition. By minimizing energy expenditure when throwing punches, he can throw more punches, each delivered lightly but with excellent accuracy and speed, ensuring no loss in timing. This absolute energy efficiency allows him to maintain a higher output of punches, particularly in the later rounds when opponents are more likely to become fatigued and susceptible to being finished.

It’s worth noting that Holloway’s renowned endurance stems from the efficient punching mechanism based on his exceptional balance. Ultimately, his ability to deliver a significantly higher volume of punches compared to others, while relying solely on light punching enabled by superior balance, allows him to conserve energy more effectively. This efficient energy usage, combined with his innate athleticism, forms the foundation of Holloway’s high-paced game.