Why does Max Holloway not spar? Looking at the ex-UFC champ’s unique training methods

Despite being a professional mixed martial arts fighter since Sept. 2010 and competing in the UFC since Feb. 2012, Max Holloway, the former featherweight champion, continues to be praised for his durability in both the sport of MMA and all combat sports. His longevity in the fight game has earned him the nickname ‘Blessed’ and has garnered admiration from many.

Despite being a long-standing presence in the UFC and facing some of the world’s top fighters, Holloway has endured significant punishment during several of his fights inside the octagon. However, one of his most renowned strengths is his ability to withstand immense amounts of damage and maintain his legendary durability.

Despite the veteran fighter’s lack of sparring, many attribute his success to his training methods. One of the most prominent MMA athletes, Holloway, is leading the charge to revolutionize the fight game by eliminating unnecessary sparring from his training regime.

Max Holloway’s Unconventional Training Techniques: The Reason Behind His No-Spar Approach

In July 2020, Max Holloway faced a unanimous decision loss against Alexander Volkanovski in their third fight for the UFC featherweight championship. At the time, the COVID-19 pandemic was causing chaos globally, leading to restrictions on training and sparring partners for many fighters.

During that period, Holloway and numerous other individuals virtually trained and sparred through Zoom calls and other methods. In the years that followed, ‘Blessed’ notably returned to in-person sparring. Despite this, the Hawaiian fighter has consistently indicated that he engages in less sparring than many other elite combat sports athletes, whether before or after the peak of the pandemic.

In the April 2023 episode of The MMA Hour podcast, Ariel Helwani interviewed Max Holloway following his dominant unanimous decision victory against Arnold Allen. Helwani inquired if ‘Blessed’ still adheres to his no sparring policy.

During the pandemic, the impressive expert observed that he had ceased sparring entirely. He had likely attended two fight camps without any sparring due to the COVID-related limitations. However, he has now resumed sparring sparingly and has incorporated motion sparring (simulating actual sparring) into his training.

Max Holloway explained that he skipped fight camp sparring while cutting weight, which caused him to become thin and increased his chances of getting injured. He further elaborated on this and his motion sparring, saying:

“I spar outside of camp. So, I don’t spar inside of camp. I would do sparring outside of camp because most of my injuries and stuff came from sparring. And it would be like, a couple of weeks before the fight when I’m getting down, I’m getting scrawny and stuff. So, we spar outside of fight here and there.”

“But we still do ‘motion sparring.’ So, the guy can give me that look, and we can be stuck like that. Because, half the times, we’d be like, ‘Oh, look. Yeah, give me this look.’ And then, I start having my way in sparring, and they just go back to their regular look because it’s more competitive sparring versus trying to mimic someone.”

Take a look at what Max Holloway had to say in the comments section below (28:04):

The link to the video is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf9hqgfSqOE.

Max Holloway’s Approach to Sparring: The Importance of Safety and Moderation

Max Holloway is once again making the move up to the lightweight division. The popular fighter, known as ‘Blessed’, has been scheduled to face current BMF champion Justin Gaethje in a lightweight title bout. Fans have been eagerly awaiting their match, which is set to take place at UFC 300 on April 13, 2024.

Despite Holloway’s move from the 145 to the 155-pound weight class, it is widely believed that this change would have neurological and holistic benefits. This is due to the fact that he would face less dehydration during weight cuts compared to his previous weight class. Furthermore, Holloway has been vocal about taking necessary measures to maintain his health in top form for the long term.

Prior to his bout with Arnold Allen in April 2023, Holloway appeared on Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel and shared valuable advice for the well-being of fellow fighters and sparring enthusiasts. The 32-year-old emphasized the importance of his minimal sparring approach, which allows him to avoid injury during training and preserve his stamina for his upcoming professional fights.

‘Blessed’ also referenced legendary fighters like Jose Aldo and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua who were known for regularly participating in intense sparring sessions at the renowned Chute Boxe fight camp. In cautioning others against engaging in such grueling sparring, Holloway stated:

“I’m no longer taking damage in the gym. [Jose] Aldo and [Mauricio Rua] they were at Chute Boxe, right? You saw how they train?. .. We take less damage in the gym so if we do take damage it can be in the fight.”

Observe Max Holloway’s evaluation in the video below (at 10:30):

The link to the video is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJVeqy3yBPk.