Holloway celebrates his UFC victory. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
Max Holloway has shown annoyance with the number of fighters who try to repeat his iconic gesture of pointing to the ground in the final moments of fights. The Hawaiian returns to the octagon in the main event of UFC 326, scheduled for next Saturday (7), when he faces Charles do Bronx in the rematch valid for the 'BMF' belt. Given the history, expectations are growing to see if 'The Blessed' will repeat the provocation that marked him, despite seeing the movement constantly reproduced in Ultimate events.
In an interview with Demetrious Johnson 's YouTube channel , Holloway stated that he feels embarrassed when he sees other athletes trying to copy the gesture. According to him, practically every weekend, during a UFC event, his name is trending on social media because of fighters rehearsing the provocation. The former champion highlighted that many fans tag him criticizing the attempts and saying that the movement is being trivialized.
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“I feel ashamed of them. Ashamed… I mean, man. I swear, now it’s every weekend. I don’t understand. If there’s a UFC event and my Twitter is blowing up because people are like, ‘Look, someone tried their best.’ What the hell did you do with pointing downwards? You’re ruining it. And I’m like, man… my God.” Holloway said.
Max Holloway sets rules for the 'pointing to the ground' gesture in UFC fights.
Holloway prepares to fight in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/espnmma
In an interview with Israel Adesanya 's YouTube channel , Holloway revealed that he had seen videos of Charles Oliveira practicing the move and recalled a statement by the Brazilian in which he said he would accept the invitation to exchange blows even at the beginning of the fight. The Hawaiian considered that the gesture was conceived for the final moments of the fight, when there is consent from both athletes and, above all, when the fighter who is ahead on points grants this opportunity.
Furthermore, he emphasized that when making the call, the opponent should not back down, attempt takedowns, or seek the clinch, but rather maintain the striking exchange during the final 10 seconds.
“I saw the video of Charles practicing the ground-pointing gesture (in training). Regarding the ten seconds, I saw an interview where he said that even if it's in the first ten seconds of the fight, he would gladly accept it. I think people don't understand the significance of those ten seconds. The ten seconds are for the end of the fight, when both fighters agree, and the guy who's winning is the one who needs to give you that blessing… If you call it, please don't back down, don't try a takedown, don't clinch. It's 10 seconds, be smart and go for the striking,” explained Max Holloway.
Charles Oliveira copies Max Holloway's gesture in training for UFC 326.
In a video posted by athlete Bruno Gafanhoto on social media, Charles appears during a training session pointing to the center of the octagon, in a gesture similar to that used by Holloway in his fights. Immediately after the provocation, the Brazilian engages in a fierce exchange of blows with his training partner, simulating exactly the situation that could occur in the BMF fight.
Pointing to the ground is Max Holloway's trademark in the UFC.
Max Holloway won the BMF belt at UFC 300. Photo: Instagram / UFC
Although he first made the gesture in 2016 when he defeated Ricardo Lamas, Max Holloway immortalized the act of pointing to the ground at UFC 300 in 2024. On that occasion, the Hawaiian was facing Justin Gaethje and, after dominating his rival for five rounds, he called him to the center of the octagon in the last 10 seconds of the fight, ending the duel with a knockout.
MAX HOLLOWAY HAS JUST PUT JUSTIN GAETHJE OUTCOLD
HOLY SHITTTT #UFC300 pic.twitter.com/i9aWXIYgvf
— bradley (@cactusbr4d) April 14, 2024
Holloway repeated the feat at UFC 319 against Dustin Poirier . However, after landing a powerful sequence of strikes, 'The Diamond' opted to clinch, avoiding the greater risk of being knocked out in the final moments of the fight.
Holloway called for the center and Poirier farted lol
— José Louis (@concatenarsim) July 20, 2025
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