Jack Della Maddalena came away highly impressed with Max Holloway’s first foray into welterweight after UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Holloway made his 170-pound debut in the UFC 329 headliner against Conor McGregor, earning a TKO victory just 69 seconds into the fight after McGregor suffered a knee injury.
Della Maddalena, a former UFC welterweight champion who helped Holloway prepare for the bout, said the Hawaiian’s performance and preparation stood out. “Man, I was thinking he was going to take over the fight from the get-go,” Della Maddalena said.
“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,” he added.
Having been closely involved in Holloway’s camp, Della Maddalena was particularly pleased with how the night ended for the new welterweight. “Just being invested in Max's camp, I'm just stoked he got out unscathed with the win,” he said. “Onto bigger and better things. It's a dangerous sport, and these things happen. I feel like Conor came out and gave it – I don't know if it was so much energy, like he just put so much into it, but that's the fight game. Anything can happen.”
Holloway now holds a 28-9 professional MMA record, including 24-9 in the UFC. McGregor’s record stands at 22-7 in MMA and 10-5 in the UFC, while Della Maddalena holds an 18-4 professional mark with an 8-2 UFC slate.
