Max Holloway will not be sparring with his fight on the Kattar fight, he will go the same route as he did when he faced Volkanovski the second time. During his fight with Volkanovski, his training was done remotely which meant no sparring partner.
It will be Holloway’s first non-title fight since fighting Ricardo Lamas back in June 2016. This will also be his first non-PPV event since August 2015 when he fought Charles Oliveira. A win might potentially give him an argument to fight for the title once again especially if Ortega beats Volkanovski.
We're opening a new year with a bang 💥
🌺 @BlessedMMA vs ☘️ @CalvinKattar
[ #UFCFightIsland7 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/IDMiTcmuCr
— UFC (@ufc) January 11, 2021
He may have discovered that he has done better when he had no sparring partner as his chin needs all the recovery he can get. He is looked fast and clean in his fight against Volkanovski and even scored a couple of knockdowns. The fight ended in a controversial decision where many thought he won unfortunately, the other judges thought of it the other way.
“I really loved how the last camp I didn’t spar. It opened my eyes. I get injured sparring a lot before fights and I felt great going inside that fight without sparring. Holloway said.
Although it may also leave one fighter not as sharp by avoiding sparring especially someone as dangerous as Calvin Kattar. Kattar is known to have crisp boxing that can knock the lights out of any boxer so Holloway needs to be as sharp as he was when he fought Brian Ortega.
It may be a theory but going to the rematch, Holloway already had a taste of Volkanovski’s style and is aware of what it was like to face him the second time, meanwhile, Kattar is a knockout puncher that can end the night instantly.
It would be wise for Holloway to choose to spar lightly but Holloway knows his body and condition better than anyone. All those questions will be answered come fight night. The fight will be a big featherweight fight since a win from Kattar will propel a title shot.
