Max Holloway is working with welterweight contender Jack Della Maddalena as part of his preparation for the upcoming bout against Conor McGregor at UFC 329.
Max Holloway has brought welterweight contender Jack Della Maddalena into his training camp as he prepares to face Conor McGregor at UFC 329 on July 11.
Holloway, 34, enters the bout ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth pound-for-pound, carrying a 27-9 record built under the banner of Gracie Technics in Hawaii. The American southpaw — standing five-foot-eleven with a 69-inch reach — is one of the sport's most prolific volume strikers, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He has not been ranked this high at lightweight without reason.
Della Maddalena, 29, brings a complementary skillset to the camp. The Australian trains out of Scrappy MMA and holds a 18-4 record while sitting fourth in the welterweight rankings and 13th pound-for-pound. He shares the same height as Holloway but carries a notably longer reach at 73 inches, and his 51 percent striking accuracy makes him one of the more efficient punchers in his division. Working alongside a welterweight of that caliber gives Holloway exposure to different timing and angles ahead of a high-profile outing.
McGregor, 37, returns with a 22-6 record representing SBG Ireland. The southpaw Irishman stands five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach and averages 5.32 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy, also showing a takedown rate of 0.67 per fifteen minutes — the highest of the three fighters in the matchup.
Why it matters
- Holloway's choice of a hard-hitting welterweight sparring partner suggests a deliberate effort to prepare for heavier, longer striking
- McGregor's southpaw stance mirrors Della Maddalena's switch-hitting style, giving Holloway varied looks from the left side
- A win for either man would carry significant weight in the lightweight division's top-five picture
Saturday, July 11, 2026
