Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway face off on Saturday for the featherweight title at UFC 276 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. These two fighters fought back in 2019 and 2020 and it was Volkanovski that won each fight. Volkanovski won the first fight by unanimous decision and the second fight by split decision.
Alexander Volkanovski comes into this fight with a 24-1 record overall and since coming into the UFC he has won 11 fights. “The Great” last fight came against Chan Sung Jung in April of 2022 and he dominated from the beginning. It was early in the 4th round that Volkanovski won by knockout. Volkanovski is averaging 6.63 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.32 significant strikes per minute. Volkanovski is averaging 6.63 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.32 significant strikes per minute. He is averaging 1.95 takedowns every 15 minutes and he is successful on 36 percent of his takedown attempts. He also stops 70 percent of his opponent's takedown attempts. Volkanovski at times still feels a bit underrated, but a win here would go a long way in putting him as one of the UFC's best.
On the other side of this matchup is Max Holloway who sits with a 23-6 record overall and he has won two fights in a row heading into this one. Holloway’s last fight came against Yair Rodriguez in November of 2021 and he won that fight by unanimous decision. He outstruck Rodriguez 230-159 and that led to the easy victory. Two fights ago against Calvin Kattar, Holloway landed 445 significant strikes per minute. He is averaging 7.38 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 4.69 significant strikes per minute. He mostly wants to keep the fight on the feet and is averaging only 0.31 takedowns every 15 minutes. He stops 66 percent of his takedown attempts.
Holloway has lost two fights against Volkanovski but that all changes here. Holloway looked much better in the second fight, and he is going to do a better job of not taking as much damage here. Holloway has put out a ton of damage in the last two fights, and I expect he is going to be the more aggressive fighter here. Holloway might not finish the fight, but he is going to get the belt back here. Back Holloway on the money line.