Master Holloway Knockout Combo: Fighters Guide to Body-Body-Head Combination for Fighting, MMA, Boxing

If you watched Holloway vs. Gaethje fight from UFC 300, you saw a brutal 3-punch combo that Hollow threw to KO Gaethje.

This combo targets the body with 2 hooks then finishing with hook to the head. Hitting the body first forces your opponent to drop their hands, leaving their chin wide open.

In this post, I'll break down this combo, give you some variations and show you how to drill it.

Video Breakdown

The Standard Body-Body-Head Combo

This combination should be thrown at close-range. It consists of:

Two hooks to the body: Alternate left and right hooks (or right and left) to the body. These shots should be thrown at 50-60% power, serving as setup punches to make him drop his hands.
One hook to the head: The final punch is full-power hook to the head, delivered with the same hand that started the sequence. For example, if you begin with a left hook to the body, followed by a right hook to the body, your third punch is a left hook to the head.

Execution Tips

Alternate Hands: Throw it as left-right-left or right-left-right, with the final hook to the head thrown the same hand as the first hook.
No Break in Rhythm: Throw the punches in a fluid 1-2-3 motion without pausing. The body shots are quick and the hook to the head follows immediately as the second body shot lands.
Power Distribution: The first two hooks are about speed and setup, not knockout power. Save your energy for the third shot, where you twist your hips and drive through for maximum damage.
Body Positioning: Get up close, squat down slightly to throw the body hooks. For the head hook, rotate and pivot to get the full power from the legs, hips and body.

Drill both sides, starting with the left or right hand so you can execute the combo instinctively from either position.

Variations to the Combo

Once you got the standard combination down, introduce some of these variations:

1. Straight Body Shots Instead of Hooks

Instead of throwing two hooks to the body, use straight shots. These are quicker than hooks and still prompt your opponent to drop their hands, setting up the head hook. Straight shots are slightly faster than hooks but principles remain:

If the right hand goes first (right straight to the body, left straight to the body), finish with a right hook to the head.
If the left hand goes first, finish with a left hook to the head.

Straight shots are slightly faster than hooks.

2. Move Off the Centerline

To avoid getting countered on the final head hook, shift off the centerline as you throw it. For example:

Throw a left hook to the body, a right hook to the body then move your head off the centerline as you throw a left hook to the head.
Alternatively, start with a right hook to the body, a left hook to the body, then shift as you throw a right hook to the head.

This movement helps you anticipate counters like uppercuts or hooks. If your opponent steps back, you can switch the final punch to an overhand instead of a hook, adjusting to the distance.

3. Incorporate Footwork

For a more advanced approach, add footwork to create angles on the final punch. Instead of staying planted, move to gain a better position:

After a left-right body hook sequence, step to the side and throw a left hook to the head.
After a right-left body hook sequence, step in and move off the centerline, then throw a right hook to the head.

This variation breaks the rhythm and makes it harder for your opponent to counter, but it's more complex. Master the basic combo first before adding footwork.

Drilling the Combination

To master this combo, start with basic drills and progress methodically.

Step 1: Shadow Boxing

Shadow boxing is where you perfect your body mechanics and technique.

Visualize Your Opponent: Stand as if you're close, imagining your opponent in front of you. Stare at their clavicle or neck area, not the ground.
Drill the Sequence: Start with the left hand (left hook body, right hook body, left hook head) for multiple reps. Then switch to the right hand (right hook body, left hook body, right hook head). Finally, mix both sides randomly to adapt to any starting hand.
Focus on Form: Keep your hands up, bring them back to your chin after each punch, and breathe out with every strike. The first two hooks should be quick with minimal hip twist, while the final head hook requires a full hip twist for power.
Maintain Rhythm: Throw the punches in a seamless 1-2-3 rhythm, no break of rhythm between shots.

Spend 10-15 minutes shadow boxing to lock in the mechanics before moving to the heavy bag.

Step 2: Heavy Bag Training

Transition to the heavy bag to work on power, speed, distance and range.

Target a Spot: Pick a spot on the bag to represent your opponent's body and head. Visualize them standing there.
Execute the Combo: Drill the 1-2-3 sequence, focusing on speed for the body shots and power for the head hook.
Stay Focused: Keep your eyes on the bag, as if staring down an opponent. Dip for body shots, pivot for the head hook.
Freestyle: Mix up the sides randomly to simulate fight scenarios, ensuring you can throw the combo without thinking.

You can combine shadow boxing and bag work in one training session (10 minutes each) or split them across days (e.g., shadow boxing one day, bag work another).