UFC 276: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway Preview, Odds, Prediction

Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway meet for the third time tonight at the UFC 276. The two featherweight legends are going to put up another spectacle, and like in the previous two, the stake on the table is the division belt. Volk has two wins against Max, but the latter was highly controversial, and many saw Max winning that bout. Though the scoring judges thought otherwise, and Volkanovski defended the title via split decision. This is the finale of a trilogy between the two of the best guys in the division at the moment, and the winner here would be remembered as the most dominant featherweight of the era.

Preview

Alexander Volkanovski (-210) comes in as a favorite in this one. We aren’t sure why the Aussi stands as such a strong favorite against one of the best ever, but it could be that the bookies know something we don’t. Volkanovski trashed Chang Sung Jung in the most recent bout, defending his title successfully for the third time in a row.

Previously, he was better than Brian Ortega at the UFC 266, but we saw Volk on a couple of occasions in problematic situations back then, and even though he eventually posted a dominant win, the Australian was fighting for his life a few times.

Volk is a very stubborn and tactical fighter who controls the distance between himself and the rival with jabs and leg kicks. His quickness and reach allow the Aussie to strike from a distance and inflict ferocious attacks. On top of that, he has a very tough chin, making him a hell of a fighter.

Max Holloway (+165) comes off back-to-back victories against Yair Rodriguez and Calvin Kattar. In both, he was better via unanimous decision, and may we add that these battles brought fantastic excitement. Against Kattar, we saw him delivering an exceptional boxing display, while vs. Yair, he had to endure one of the most versatile attacks in the UFC.

On each occasion, we saw Max in the best possible shape, eating, but also handing shots and kicks, and having the power to go to the distance. For many, this is the bout that defines his legacy. If he wins, the Blessed will be the best featherweights ever. On the other hand, if he loses, he will be a big champion, but nothing more than that.

His striking technique is perfect, but against Yair, we saw him using various other attacking weapons, in order to control the Mexican. Holloway’s gas tank is pretty big, and he can go five rounds all the time. To be precise, the last six of his battles went to the distance.

Prediction

Around 75% percent of the wagers are on Max, and we, too, believe that the American will come out as the winner. He had much tougher rivals than the champ in the recent two tiles, while on the other side, Volk wasn’t convincing as usual against Ortega. The Korean Zombie is on the decline, and we aren’t considering him as an elite anymore.

The second clash between these two showed us that Max knows how to control Volk’s reach advantage and that he found a way to dictate the fight’s tempo. That is why we take Max in this one.

Pick: Holloway to win +165