By The Numbers: Alexander Volkanovski-Max Holloway Trilogy

Brian KnappApr 21, 2024

As the two greatest featherweights of a generation, Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway almost certainly understand that their legacies will always be measured against one another.

They engaged in hand-to-hand combat on three occasions between Dec. 14, 2019 and July 2, 2022, pushing themselves to the limit and beyond. Volkanovski proved to be the Hawaiian Superman’s kryptonite, emerging victorious three times in the span of some 30 months. No one before or since has enjoyed such success against Holloway, the most prolific striker in Ultimate Fighting Championship history. Now nearly two years removed from their most recent altercation, the two men remain inextricably linked by what has taken place between them inside the cage.

With their rivalry still fresh in the minds of many and the possibility of a fourth clash still possible, a by-the-numbers look at what made Volkanovski vs. Holloway so unforgettable:

931: Days between the first and third Volkanovski-Holloway meetings. Volkanovski laid claim to victories in all three, as he took a unanimous decision from Holloway at UFC 245 in December 2019, eked out a split verdict against him at UFC 251 in July 2020 and captured a unanimous decision over the Hawaiian at UFC 276 in July 2022.

19,649: Fans to witness the third chapter of the Volkanovski-Holloway rivalry in the UFC 276 co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It was the highest attendance figure of the trilogy and generated a gate north of $10 million.

75: Minutes of fight time in the Volkanovski-Holloway series. All three bouts went the distance, requiring them to battle one another for 15 full rounds.

907: Total strikes landed by Volkanovski and Holloway in their trilogy. Their third encounter accounted for more than one-third of the total (365).

13: Takedown attempts from Volkanovski in his three starts against Holloway. He completed only three of them, all in their second confrontation. Holloway whiffed on all three of his tries.

130: Significant strikes by which Volkanovski outlanded Holloway in their feud at 145 pounds. He connected with 493 such strikes while absorbing 363 in return.

42: Percent success rate for Holloway on his significant strike attempts (363-for-872) against the Australian, well below his 48% career mark.

170: Leg kicks landed by Volkanovski across his three fights with the Gracie Technics star. He connected with 75 of them in their first battle.

248: Seconds of control time amassed Volkanovski at the Hawaiian’s expense. Holloway, by comparison, was credited with just 18.

0: Knockdowns recorded between Volkanovski and Holloway in their three-fight series—a remarkable feat of durability for both men.