Nicknamed “Blessed,” Max Holloway doesn’t just outlast his opponents- he truly overwhelms them with his elite conditioning and relentless precision. His nonstop pace and precision have quickly turned him into one of the sport's deadliest weapons. After his first-round TKO (69 seconds) win against Conor McGregor at UFC 329, Holloway continues his intense off-season training and diet.

A YouTube video shared by Holloway highlighted his intense off-season training at Tactical Strength and Conditioning. Before he begins his workouts, he grabs his recovery drink and creatine- essentials for his post-training. At the gym, Holloway engages in strength conditioning workouts after a good warm-up session.

Surprisingly, he admits to loving leg day, unlike most people. “My favorite workout is always my leg, you know? It’s leg day every day we come in here,” Holloway said.

Alongside training his legs, Holloway engages in various mobility and conditioning drills. From lunges to medicine ball throws, one-legged hopping, and Kaiser Belt squats, Holloway does it all.

However, he stresses the importance of training legs, saying, “Every day is leg day.” Clearly, it is one of his favorite parts to train.

Off the mat, Holloway is equally disciplined. His nutritionist, Tyler, orchestrates every meal to fuel his performance. His meals are typically timed around his training sessions to maximize weight management, recovery, and growth.

According to GQ, Holloway enjoys a protein-rich diet, adjusting his carbohydrate intake according to the intensity of his training. Of course, he still enjoys indulging in cheat meals- but with a healthy twist.

Once Holloway is out of camp, he immediately shifts gears. He fully prepares to dial back the intensity, taking a stricter approach with training and nutrition.

The training camp that keeps Max Holloway fight-ready

Stepping into the Octagon requires more than just raw talent. Holloway’s intense training during his fight camp is proof of just that.

As per Muscle and Fitness, Holloway shared that his workouts begin as early as 10 a.m. The exercises include not only tactical strength and conditioning, but also cardio, jiujitsu drills, and sparring sessions.

However, his main workout consists of hardcore heavy lifting. These include traditional exercises with kettlebells, barbell deadlifts, and bench presses.

“Strength training is super important,” he said. “It’s been a foundational element of my training for the past 14 years, building my overall endurance, power, speed, and flexibility.”

Nothing could come in the way of Holloway’s training camp- not even COVID. As per ESPN, Holloway held training camps over Zoom video calls during COVID when all gyms were closed.

The fight, scheduled for July 11, 2020, against Alexander Volkanovski, on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, might have resulted in Holloway’s defeat after five rounds. However, his online training camp reflected his discipline and mindset towards training.

What do you think is the biggest key to success in Holloway’s approach to training?

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Written by

Avantika Das

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil