Former Max Holloway title rival Alexander Volkanovski believes the Hawaiian will deliver a dominant performance against Conor McGregor in the main event of UFC 329 , scheduled for July 11 in Las Vegas. The current champion not only named "The Blessed" as the favorite, but also predicted the fight will end before the five-round limit.
During a video posted on his YouTube channel, Volkanovski analyzed the duel and expressed complete conviction that his former rival will prevail. In the Australian's assessment, Holloway is in great form, unlike McGregor, and possesses the necessary tools to control the fight from start to finish.
See too
“He’s going to finish him. A submission is going to be the way to go. Maybe we’ll see that happen. Max Holloway win , 100%. Maybe submission or TKO if he finishes him,” said the featherweight champion.
The Australian's opinion gains even more relevance given the history built between the two. After all, few know the Hawaiian's style as well as Volkanovski, who faced him three times in title fights and won all of them. For the champion, the experience accumulated in these confrontations shows that the volume of strikes, the intense pace, and the stamina of "The Blessed" can be decisive in neutralizing McGregor's main weapons.
Besides expressing confidence in the outcome, the former rival highlighted that Holloway's fighting style represents a huge challenge for the Irishman at this point in his career. In the Australian's view, the former BMF champion is in top form, while "The Notorious" is still trying to regain his competitive rhythm after a long period away from the octagon.
According to the featherweight champion, the Hawaiian's constant movement, high volume of strikes, and excellent physical conditioning should make the difference as the fight progresses. Volkanovski believes Max will take control of the action, gradually increase the pace, and find the ideal moment to finish the fight before the end of the five rounds.
Alexander Volkanovski has the advantage in the trilogy against Holloway.
Volkanovski promotes UFC event. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC
Volkanovski's confidence in his former rival is noteworthy, especially given their history. The Australian and Hawaiian were involved in one of the most memorable rivalries in the featherweight division, facing each other three times, all for the category's title.
The first encounter took place at UFC 245 in December 2019, when Alexander surprised everyone by dominating the then-champion and winning the title by unanimous decision. In the rematch, held at UFC 251 in 2020, the Australian won again, this time by split decision, a result that generated considerable controversy among fans and experts.
The third and final duel took place at UFC 276 in July 2022, when Volkanovski ended any debate by dominating Holloway via unanimous decision, closing the trilogy with three victories.
Johnny Walker opens up about his heavyweight debut at UFC 332.
Comments