He typically leaves the arc equal to or relative to the main antagonist
This is especially evident since, for example, he was unable to move for a bit after beating Lucci in Enies Lobby, while Lucci was also able to move, but was clearly more injured since he was going to die without his fellow Cipher Pol agents helping him out. And he used one of his strongest moves to take down Lucci there.
Same case with people like Katakuri and Doflamingo, though Doflamingo was more of a Cracker type opponent. He knew Luffy had more brute strength and durability, so he avoided direct clashes and tried his best to stall him by spamming Awakened strings.
This is especially evident since, for example, he was unable to move for a bit after beating Lucci in Enies Lobby, while Lucci was also able to move, but was clearly more injured since he was going to die without his fellow Cipher Pol agents helping him out. And he used one of his strongest moves to take down Lucci there.
Same case with people like Katakuri and Doflamingo, though Doflamingo was more of a Cracker type opponent. He knew Luffy had more brute strength and durability, so he avoided direct clashes and tried his best to stall him by spamming Awakened strings.