​Former UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena believes Max Holloway could dominate the competition at 170 pounds if he sticks to the welterweight limit. Holloway’s welterweight debut came in the main event of UFC 329, where he secured a first-round TKO over Conor McGregor after McGregor injured his knee just 69 seconds into the fight. Despite the brief nature of the bout, Holloway appeared effective, moving well inside the Octagon and adapting to the added mass of a 170-pound frame. Della Maddalena, Holloway’s training partner, has even suggested that Holloway could clean up the 170-pound division and perhaps win the belt.
In an interview with Full Send MMA after UFC 329, Maddalena expressed his belief that Holloway could excel at 170 pounds, saying that from training with him, he anticipated Holloway would perform exceptionally well, potentially taking over the division if he committed to the weight class. He told Bloody Elbow, “Man, I was thinking he was gonna take over the fight from the get-go. Just being able to train with someone like Max, it was incredible. I thought he was going to do well, and I think he would do well — like, he would clean up 170 if he wanted to.”
With UFC 329 now in the books, the question becomes what Holloway will do next in terms of weight class. Maddalena believes Holloway should remain at 170 pounds, but ultimately the decision rests with Holloway and the UFC regarding Holloway’s upcoming opponent and weight class. If Holloway wishes to pursue a trilogy with McGregor, remaining at 170 pounds would be necessary, and Holloway has already indicated a willingness to wait until 2027 for McGregor’s return from what is likely an ACL injury. On the other hand, if the UFC aims to book Holloway against lightweight champion Justin Gaethje in a rematch of their clash at UFC 300, Holloway would need to drop back down to lightweight for that matchup.
Thus, the ultimate outcome will hinge on Holloway’s chosen path and the UFC’s scheduling, but either way, expect Holloway to be matched with another big-name opponent soon. For those who enjoy the latest MMA news, follow HEAVY for updates. This piece originally appeared on HEAVY.