You can add famed boxing trainer and MMA fan, Teddy Atlas to the legion of fight observers impressed by the “Swiss army knife” performance of Max Holloway at UFC Vegas 42.
This past Saturday, inside the UFC APEX, top-five featherweight Max Holloway (23-6) and Yair Rodriguez (13-3) went to war for 25 minutes. It was a fight that showcased the high-level talent in the weight class, as well as why Holloway is viewed as one of the greatest talents to have ever competed in the division.
“Blessed” displayed nearly every key attribute that’s needed to be an elite fighter in the Octagon. From his superb boxing to his grappling, and even his absurdly durable chin, it was another performance that made fans swoon over the 29-year-old former division king. Among that group of admirers was renowned boxing trainer Teddy Atlas. The long-time ESPN analyst was one of the many who turned on ESPN+ to watch Holloway compete, and was blown away by a fighter he calls a “complete package.”
Teddy Atlas calls Max Holloway a ‘Swiss army knife’ of MMA
“I didn’t realize how versatile he was and what a complete package. I thought of him almost as a professional boxer, that he’s so good at using his legs, controlling the range, boxing, jabbing, setting combinations up, crisp punches, he can counter you, he can time you, he can go on the mat with you. Oh my God, this guy is the full package,” Atlas said on his THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas podcast [h/t MMAJunkie]. “He’s the complete package. He is so loaded, he does it all. He’s an old Swiss army knife. He’s got everything.”
Is ‘Blessed’ second to none when it comes to pure MMA striking?
Holloway has long been considered to be one of the best strikers in the sport. However, his record-setting showing against Calvin Kattar in January — as he proclaimed to the ESPN announce to the team, “I’m the best boxer in the UFC” — took his reputation to new heights.
For the man that has trained championship boxers like Michael Moorer, Alexander Povetkin, and Timothy Bradley, Atlas feels the featherweight contender is second to none when it comes to the striking game. Although he may not thump as hard as some, on a technique for technique level, few can match that greatness of Holloway.
“Max is so special. But [his striking] was his greatest advantage, of why he was able to keep the edge in the fight — win the fight — was that he could do so many other things. He is a great, great striker. I don’t know if anyone in the business is better,” said Atlas. “I know he’s not as good a puncher maybe as some of the greatest strikers out there. But as far as overall abilities in all the areas, I mean, I don’t know if anyone can really match him when it comes to striking.”
Did Holloway’s most recent performance bring him up another rung towards being called the best pure striker in the entirety of MMA today, or are there other fighters just a little bit better?