{"id":14720,"date":"2025-07-17T22:57:58","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T15:57:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=14720"},"modified":"2025-07-17T22:57:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T15:57:58","slug":"max-holloway-reveals-secret-weapon-ahead-of-ufc-318","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=14720","title":{"rendered":"Max Holloway Reveals Secret Weapon Ahead of UFC 318"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>It\u2019s difficult to believe that Max Holloway has been competing in MMA since the age of 15.\u00a0 Now 33, the man they call \u201cBlessed\u201d remains one of the top fighters in the UFC.\u00a0So, how does Holloway stay youthful while evolving year by year? Apparently, as he explains to <em>M&amp;F,<\/em> it\u2019s all about a love of gaming and a commitment to strength and conditioning.<\/p>\n<p>Max Holloway has come a long way from Hawaii. A former UFC featherweight champion with seven \u201cFight of the Night\u201d honors, he is as entertaining as he is athletic in the Octagon, but despite the blood, sweat, and tears of training, Holloway says that a big part of his lifestyle revolves around gaming. \u201cOne of the first video games I ever played was <em>GoldenEye 007<\/em> for the Nintendo 64,\u201d reflects the phenomenal fighter. \u201c<em>GoldenEye 007<\/em> also happens to be my favorite of all time. It\u2019s definitely a classic FPS (First-Person Shooter) game. I love it because it requires in-depth strategy, has fun missions, and great special effects.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Holloway\u2019s love of gaming started out as a hobby but has now turned into a productive part of his day. Now an avid content creator, he livestreams regularly <a href=\"http:\/\/kick.com\/maxholloway\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">on the KICK platform<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019ve been playing video games since I was a kid, and there\u2019s a lot of nostalgia and core memories tied to them,\u201d he shares. \u201cGaming on livestream was just a natural transition for me. I love being able to connect with the gaming community online and chat with my KICK following while I play. I jump into random multiplayer games all the time. Gaming is more than a hobby; it\u2019s one of the ways I decompress on my off days from training.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-caption \">\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:55.36519386835%;\" class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.muscleandfitness.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UFC-fighter-Max-Holloway-raising-his-fist-in-victory-after-a-MMA-fight.jpg?quality=86&amp;strip=all\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" alt=\"UFC fighter Max Holloway raising his fist in victory after a MMA fight\" width=\"1109\" height=\"614\" data-fallback-img=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.muscleandfitness.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UFC-fighter-Max-Holloway-raising-his-fist-in-victory-after-a-MMA-fight.jpg?quality=86&amp;strip=all\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"credit\">UFC<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Max Holloway Uses Gaming to Decompress on His Recovery Days<\/h2>\n<p>With a huge fight coming up, the ability to unwind is an essential aspect of Holloway\u2019s mental preparation. On July 19, 2025, he will face <a href=\"https:\/\/www.muscleandfitness.com\/athletes-celebrities\/pro-tips\/ufcs-dustin-poirier-training-tips-to-get-to-the-top-page-sep-sitename\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dustin Poirier<\/a> for the third and final time before Poirier is scheduled to retire and it\u2019s a match Holloway would love to win because he\u2019s lost the first two. Holloway will also be putting the symbolic BMF Championship on the line, adding further pressure to the highly anticipated bout.<\/p>\n<p>While in fight camp, gaming becomes less about creating live content, and more about helping him to recover. \u201cLeading up to a fight, my days are dedicated to training camp,\u201d explains Holloway. \u201cMy workouts start around 10 a.m. and include a combination of sparring sessions, tactical strength and conditioning, cardio exercise, and jiujitsu drills. On my recovery days, I\u2019ll typically spend a couple hours gaming on livestream.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The balance seems to be working, because Holloway appears relaxed ahead of that final rematch. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a fun rematch, for sure,\u201d he tells M&amp;F. \u201cDustin and I have a lot of history, and there\u2019s been a huge amount of growth from the first fight with him, in 2012, to now. Since this is his retirement fight, he\u2019s taking it very seriously. And I am too\u2014I\u2019m going for a statement win. It\u2019s an opportunity for me to remind everyone of who I am.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, with a pro <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tapology.com\/fightcenter\/fighters\/12723-max-holloway-lil-evil\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MMA record of 26-8-0<\/a> including 12 wins by knockout and 2 wins by submission in UFC, Holloway has won his last four fights and does not intend to relinquish the BMF title. \u201cIt means a lot,\u201d he shares. \u201cBecause I come from a little town on Oahu. Growing up, I was underestimated by many, so it feels validating to accomplish success in the sport. Fighting in the UFC was a dream since I first began fighting, so I have immense gratitude that I\u2019m able to live out my dream and do what I truly love to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Max Holloway Stays in Control by Utilizing Strength and Conditioning<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m fully locked-in and my team is ramping up the intensity in training camp with hardcore workouts,\u201d shares Holloway of the strategy around that big fight at UFC 318. \u201cWe\u2019re really honing in on the strength and conditioning,\u201d he explains. This fighter is not afraid of lifting heavy, and is known to execute a variety of squats, along with traditional moves such as the bench press and barbell deadlift, along with kettlebell exercises. In addition to the heavy lifting, Holloway also works on his mobility with resistance bands and balancing work. \u201cEvery day we fine-tune and make adjustments where necessary,\u201d says Holloway. \u201cI\u2019m also sticking to a clean meal regimen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This fighter says that strength and conditioning has been a key aspect of success. \u201cStrength training is super important,\u201d he explains. \u201cIt\u2019s been a foundational element of my training for the past 14 years, building my overall endurance, power, speed, and flexibility.\u201d Of course, it\u2019s not just fight fans that will be glued to his battle with Poirier. Holloway\u2019s growing gaming community will also be cheering him on. \u201cKICK has strong viewership and engagement, and my following there is authentic and organic,\u201d he says proudly.<\/p>\n<p>Still, the student of Muay Thai is more focused on reality than fantasy at this point. \u201cEvery year I\u2019m a different fighter because I\u2019m a better fighter,\u201d he tells M&amp;F. \u201cI try to evolve from year to year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So with no cheat codes available in the Octagon, how does Holloway intend to beat Poirier on this third and final level? \u201cIf there\u2019s a will there\u2019s a way,\u201d he tells M&amp;F, noting that this sentiment is probably the best advice that he\u2019s received as a fighter. \u201cChampions always find a way,\u201d he adds. \u201cAlso, fit everything in without cutting corners. Cutting corners might work in the beginning, but eventually you\u2019ll run into the person who didn\u2019t cut corners.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirer 3 will be broadcast live from New Orleans on July 19, 2025.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/kick.com\/maxholloway\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">To join Max Holloway\u2019s gaming community on KICK, click here.\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.muscleandfitness.com\/athletes-celebrities\/interviews\/max-holloway-reveals-secret-weapon-ahead-of-ufc-318\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s difficult to believe that Max Holloway has been competing in MMA since the age of 15.\u00a0 Now 33, the man they call \u201cBlessed\u201d remains one of the top fighters in the UFC.\u00a0So, how does Holloway stay youthful while evolving year by year? Apparently, as he explains to M&amp;F, it\u2019s all about a love of &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fitness"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14720"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14720\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}