Max Holloway envisioned his upcoming rematch with Charles Oliveira as a gathering between two advanced combined martial arts artists, somewhat than a easy striker vs. grappler matchup. Forward of their five-round light-weight bout for the BMF title at UFC 326, Holloway reiterated that Oliveira is a “killer” with a whole talent set and is assured in each his takedown protection and talent to struggle on the bottom ought to the struggle come to fruition.
Max Holloway shuts down speak of ‘striker vs. grappler’ forward of Oliveira struggle
In an interview with Stake, “Blessed” Max Holloway defined:
Charles is a assassin, man. He is an amazing fighter with nice talent. I feel it is fascinating, folks say it is a striker vs. grappler match, however that is combined martial arts. Charles shouldn’t be a straight jiu-jitsu man and makes use of his placing to arrange grappling strategies.
“I’ve seen some folks say, ‘When you hit the bottom, Max is completed,’ and I assumed, what? I am very assured not solely in my takedown protection, but in addition in my sport on the bottom. I have been coaching Jiu-Jitsu for years and I find it irresistible. I now have way more Jiu-Jitsu classes than some other facet, however I really find it irresistible probably the most. I really like coaching within the gi.”
“I’ve seen folks on-line saying it is unrealistic why I’d do this…however if you cannot maintain me down in a gi, you will not be capable to maintain me down after I’m sweating in an MMA match!”
Holloway pushed again in opposition to those that argued that Oliveira can be in peril if taken down, mentioning that Oliveira shouldn’t be a pure jiu-jitsu specialist, however a fighter who makes use of placing and grappling strategies. Coach Holloway identified that lots of Oliveira’s finishes come after he hurts his opponent’s legs after which makes use of the bottom to his benefit. That remark is mirrored in Holloway’s preparation. He treats Oliveira as a well-rounded risk somewhat than a one-dimensional grappler, which shapes his strategy to distance, feints, and reactionary takedown protection.
That is MMA and that is what occurs when folks do loopy runs, so I wasn’t shocked and nothing on this sport shocked me. Charles stated himself, “I used to be only a child then, however now I am a lion!” Possibly you had been a toddler then and now you are a young person? All kidding apart, I am glad we are able to each proceed to do what we have been doing and I am trying ahead to getting again on the market with him.
“To be trustworthy, this does not change the best way I prepare. It was a very long time in the past that we fought and we had been each fully completely different fighters, so there’s not a lot I can take away from that struggle. If you struggle somebody again to again like I did with Volk, that may have an effect, however that wasn’t the case this time.”
On the subject of grappling, Holloway was open about what he spends his time doing at camp. He stated he now trains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu extra usually than some other a part of his sport, and constructions these classes to strengthen his calmness in groundwork.
He additionally addressed criticism from followers who questioned why he nonetheless trains in a dogi, arguing that if somebody cannot immobilize or management him by the friction of a dogi, it is unlikely they will do it in a slick, sweaty MMA match. These classes are a part of a broader effort to indicate he is not a stand-up fighter who simply desires to keep away from the bottom, however somebody who trains to outlive and counter in a number of positions.
Holloway can also be revisiting the story behind his first struggle at featherweight in 2015, which led to a TKO after an damage stoppage. He stated Oliveira was a “child” then and is now a “lion,” acknowledging how a lot Oliveira has grown as a finisher and strain fighter. Holloway added that he himself has modified dramatically since their earlier assembly, joking that whereas he might have been an “toddler” in 2015, he’s now at a extra skilled stage in his profession. This transformation implies that he not sees the primary battle as a fundamental template for his present technique. As an alternative, he treats the rematch as one other puzzle to unravel.
Concerning the construction of the camp, Holloway stated the lengthy hole between the 2 matches meant he was not counting on direct footage of the primary encounter for tactical particulars. As an alternative, he targeted on Oliveira’s latest performances, learning how he chained submissions, regarded for alternatives, and transitioned between placing and wrestling. This strategy forces Holloway to sharpen his lateral actions, clinch-level protection, and counters, doubtlessly disrupting Oliveira’s rhythm earlier than closing the gap and making use of strain together with his normal grapples.
