When Wai‘anae's Max Holloway signed the dotted line for perhaps the most prominent bout of his career, the fight agreement came with a new wrinkle.
Holloway (27-9) will take on worldwide superstar Conor McGregor (22-6) in the main event of UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 11. The fight will take place at welterweight, Holloway's first foray into the 170-pound weight class.
Of Holloway's 32 UFC fights, the vast majority have taken place in the 145-pound featherweight division. Holloway's 14 straight featherweight wins remain a UFC record, and he reigned as the division's champion from 2016 to 2019. In 2024, he moved up to the 155-pound lightweight division, winning the UFC's BMF belt against current lightweight champ Justin Gaethje.
Though Holloway lost the BMF belt via decision to Charles Oliveira in March, he got the fight he's coveted for the last 13 years. Back in 2013 when Holloway was 21 and McGregor was 25, the two fought at UFC Fight Night 26 in Boston, with McGregor taking the victory via decision. The two separately ascended to superstardom in the sport.
As Holloway prepared for one of the biggest opportunities of his career leading up to July 11, one of the names he turned to was his trusty strength and conditioning coach, Darin Yap.
Yap, the founder and owner of Honolulu-based Tactical Strength, believes that even though Holloway is making a 15-pound leap from his last fight, it's important that he doesn't lose his best qualities in the new weight class. Known for his striking volume and stamina, Holloway's 3,681 significant strikes stand alone as a UFC record.
"We always try to be true to who Max is as a fighter, meaning that he's going to utilize his footwork, he's going to bring pressure, he's going to throw a lot of punches," Yap told Aloha State Daily in a recent interview. "The footwork, the hand speed, the endurance, those three things always have to remain constant, because that's who he is as a fighter. Every fight, regardless of the opponent, we always start making sure that we have taken care of those things, and then based on the weight class and who the opponent is, we can make adjustments from there.
"He gained a little bit of weight so that he could be a little bit more durable, and then the weight always helps with the punching power, too. But like I said, we never want to sacrifice our speed and our endurance for size."
During a rigorous camp, Holloway steadily added to his frame in preparation for the welterweight bout.
"We're trying to add a little bit of size slowly. I think the biggest difference for Max (at welterweight) is that he can eat more, and then him having that Polynesian frame as he starts to eat more, you can really see that body start to fill out," Yap said. "I know he's definitely a lot more happy when he's fighting at 170 but I think other than that, I don't think there's a whole lot of difference between (camps at 155 vs. 170)."
Coincidentally, McGregor held featherweight and lightweight belts with the UFC during his time with the organization. But unlike Holloway, McGregor has fought at welterweight three times. McGregor's return is heavily anticipated due to the fact that he hasn't fought since fracturing his leg in a July 10, 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier. Excitement for McGregor's return is prevalent, and the Holloway camp is no different.
"The level of excitement is through the roof," Yap said. "We wanted this, we were hoping for it. We're really excited, but we're trying to contain ourselves, because there's always a chance that Conor doesn't show up. Come fight night, when both of those guys are in, at least we'll know Conor showed up, and that'll be some validation."
Yap, a 1995 ‘Aiea High School graduate, works with a bevy of athletes across different sports, genders and levels during his 65-hour work weeks. Clients range from the youth level all the way to the pros, such as Holloway and Cleveland Guardians standout pitcher Joey Cantillo.
Holloway and Yap first met when Holloway was a wiry teenager that had yet to sign with the UFC. Yap's first experience training Holloway ahead of a fight was in 2011, back when Holloway outlasted local veteran Harris Sarmiento at an X-1 event at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. Yap says it didn't take long for him to realize he was working with someone special in Holloway. Fifteen years later, Holloway continues to cement himself as one of the greats in the sport.
"I'm just completely grateful to him that he allowed me to come on this journey with him. It's been such a great experience. He knows that it's just pure gratitude on my part," Yap said. "I'm just super happy to help him anywhere, any way I can, and just happy to be on this blessed express with him."
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
