“On a whim, I ended up fighting at an event my friend was preparing for. I got my first win and fell in love with the sport from there.”

Beyond the hail of punches he lobs at his opponents, Holloway has never been knocked out during a match. With a professional record of 26 wins, all seven of his losses come from decisions and a single submission.

Holloway’s chosen craft is about more than taking a punch.

“It’s about being smart in the ring,” he says. “A lot of people tend to make fighting more complicated than it needs to be. I know I might get some heat for this, but fighting isn’t that hard.

“Like anything, it becomes easier if you simplify it. I’ve found ways to make things more straightforward and understandable for myself.”

Developing his talent is also about developing his legacy. Holloway looks up to some of the greatest of all time inside and outside of the arena for what makes a great athlete.

“I draw inspiration from a lot of people. In fighting, I looked up to Jose Aldo and Anthony Pettis for their fighting styles. Outside of fighting, I admire LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan for their greatness.”

Ultimately though, the person he says always pushed him to excel from a young age was his grandfather.

“He's the man that pushed me to be great,” he says, beaming with pride about the “hardworking man and always encouraged me to work hard and strive for excellence.”

Regardless, Holloway says his grandfather may have preferred him swinging a hammer than swinging his fists.

“I think he'd be pretty mad with what I'm doing right now,” he added with a laugh. “He wanted me to do something regular, like be an electrician, plumber, or something.”

Fighting Shape

No shortage of work ethic has carried over from his grandfather. With an unrivalled training regime, he has kept ahead of his competition through tireless and purposeful training.

“When I’m training for a fight, I train a couple of times a day, totalling at least two to four hours a day, and sometimes more depending on the intensity of the training,” Holloway said. “On some days, I might only train for two hours due to the high intensity of the workout. On others, I may reduce the intensity and extend the training.

“It really depends on how my body is feeling and what my body allows me to do.”

Beyond the best training in the world, Holloway admits his diet is largely controlled by his biggest supporter and wife, professional surfer Alessa Quizon.

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“The truth is whatever my wife wants to make is what I eat—and she's the best. She cooks everything from pasta to various dishes with fish and chicken.”

Pushing himself to the limit has allowed Holloway to reach new heights. With his time on the canvas, he is not only looking at his legacy as a champion but for the bar he is setting for fighters in the future.

“I want longevity,” he says about his future. “I want to set records and dare the next generation to go get them and beat them. I always say to be the best, you've got to beat the best. I can't wait for it.”

Holloway is also mindful of the toll fighting at this level can take on his body. Part of fighting smarter, his quest for greatness is tempered by how much punishment he can take while remaining on top.

“When it's all said and done, I want to leave a legacy. No one can take that away from you. Names like LeBron and Kobe have longevity. I want to be in this sport as long as I can compete at the top,” he said. “I don't want this sport to retire me.”

Part of the legend he plans to leave behind focuses on giving back to his community and honouring the memory of his grandfather, who told him to leave the world better than he found it.

One of the biggest ways is supporting programs that once supported him as a child.

“Giving back is important to me because I was one of those kids who benefited from community programs,” he said. “I was one of those kids going to the Waianae and Girls Club. They let me stay, helped me with my homework, and let me play.”

Calling the Waianae club “close to his heart,” Holloway has partnered with the UFC to build a gym for the place he grew up.

“I always told myself that if I made it to a point where I could help my community, I would do it.”

Ultimately, Holloway says he hopes to see someone emerge from his hometown gym to fight in the UFC. He is not shy about the dedication and determination needed to stand next to him on the winner’s podium.

“Tough times don't last, tough people do. Keep grinding. If you want something bad, go get it. There will be a million people, especially on social media, trying to bring you down. Just because someone else was told they couldn't do it and believed it doesn’t mean you need to believe it. Keep pushing, be great. We need a lot of positivity in this world.”