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topicnews · July 16, 2025

Dominick Cruz emphasizes Max Holloway's key to victory

Dominick Cruz emphasizes Max Holloway's key to victory

Dominick Cruz would like to see how Max Holloway changes a certain thing in his strategy to UFC 318.

Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) defends his BMF title against Dustin Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) in a trilogy fight that overwrites the event on Saturday (Pay-Per-View, ESPN, ESPN+) in the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans in New Orleans. Holloway is 0-2 against “The Diamond”.

Cruz wants Holloway to diversify his striking attack against Poirier.

“What they will see are basic weapons from a south paw towards a conventional one,” said Cruz in a breakdown video for ESPN MMA. “The basic weapons for me are my butt. So, I will fight here by hand and I want the kick to the liver of Max, I want the kick in my head, I want the kick inside.

“And finally I want the right hand, a low kick. These kicks will be a big job for Max Holloway. He didn't use much kick in her first matchup. Dustin Poirier is not a big wrestler, not a big shooter. He likes it, so I think we will see more kicks.”

Cruz said Holloway couldn't stand in his pocket with Poirier, who had proven to be the power advantage at UFC 236. He wants him to show the skill of his kicks.

“The way Max can beat Poirier's boxing is to use his steps to use its reach,” said Cruz. “This Tep kick glides like a push. This is also one of the things we saw from Max. He counted this head shot by going to the body. So when Poirier slipped back, he went here (body).

“I think we will see some adaptations for Max with this slide back hook, the draw sequences in which he likes to move them into his pocket and fight, and he is very precise. I think we will see this time from Max Holloway more, more knees, more elbows and much more enthusiasm.”

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