Summary
Holloway celebrates his UFC victory. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
Max HollowayWithout a doubt, he was responsible for one of the most iconic moments in UFC history when he pointed to the ground and called out. Justin gaethje for a stand-up exchange and to knock out the American in the last second of the UFC 300Since then, the Hawaiian, who measures his strength with Charles of the Bronx in the main fight of UFC 326, scheduled for this Saturday (7), saw his provocation repeated several times in the world's most famous octagon. In most cases, however, the attempt to imitate the gesture did not end as well as it did for the current BMF belt holder.
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On the eve of UFC 326, an event in which many fans are hoping Holloway will repeat the gesture and invite Charles of the Bronx For a fierce exchange in the final ten seconds of the fight, the SUPER LUTAS team decided to recall some fighters who tried to imitate the Hawaiian, but failed to repeat the feat.
Jailton Malhadinho
In a fight valid for the heavyweight division (up to 120,2kg) at UFC Vegas 113, Jailton Malhadinho He needed to erase the image of a 'boring fighter' left by his last performance against Alexander Volkov.
In the final ten seconds of three rounds marked by little action in front of Rizvan KunievThe Brazilian decided to point to the ground to excite the crowd. The provocation, however, did not have the desired effect. After the gesture, the fighter from Bahia remained on the defensive and landed few blows against his rival, who ended up winning by split decision.
As a result, Malhadinho ended up being fired from the UFC and subsequently signed a contract with ACA, an organization in Russia.
— MMA Video (@Gabriel75963578) March 6, 2026
Greg hardy
T. Tuivasa knocked out G. Hardy in the UFC 264. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Still in 2021, even before Max Holloway to immortalize the gesture, Greg hardy He pointed to the ground and called out. Tai tuivasa For a straight-up exchange. The Australian, however, didn't fall for the provocation. Instead, he stuck to his strategy and knocked out the American about a minute later.
— MMA Video (@Gabriel75963578) March 6, 2026
amir albazi
In the flyweight division (up to 56,7 kg), amir albazi also tried to recreate the moment. Trailing on the scoreboard against Brandon MorenoThe fighter asked for a chance to seek victory through open exchanges of blows.
The Mexican accepted the idea, but Albazi himself ended up adopting a defensive stance, and the anticipated exchange of blows never happened.
— MMA Video (@Gabriel75963578) March 6, 2026
Jean Silva
Jean Silva celebrates victory in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
No UFC 324, an event that marked the beginning of the billion-dollar partnership between the UFC and Paramount+, Jean Silva He also pointed to the ground and called out. arnold allen for the exchange.
The Briton, however, didn't fall for the provocation. Even so, the representative from the Fighting Nerds team found a way to liven up the crowd: Jean 'surfed' no rival, starring in a moment as curious as the gesture popularized by Holloway.
— MMA Video (@Gabriel75963578) March 6, 2026
Ilia Topuria
Ilia Topuria is the only fighter to knock out Max Holloway. Photo: Reproduction/ Instagram UFC
Se Max Holloway He usually points to the ground and calls out to his opponents in the final seconds of the fight. Ilia Topuria he decided to reverse the logic when he faced the Hawaiian in UFC 308.
Right at the start of the fight, the Spaniard challenged Holloway to a stand-up exchange. Max, however, didn't accept the invitation, and the fight ended up being decided in the second round with a knockout in favor of Topuria.
????Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway pic.twitter.com/TKEdrFGGJl
— Cage Pulse (@Cage_PulseMMA) October 26, 2025
Max Holloway says he feels ashamed when people try to copy him in the UFC.
Holloway focused before fighting in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC
In an interview with the channel Demetrious Johnson On YouTube, 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.
“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.
In an interview with the channel Israel adesanya On YouTube, Holloway revealed that he watched videos of Charles of the Bronx practicing the movement and recalled a Brazilian's statement in which he stated that he accepted the invitation to exchange blows even at the beginning of the fight. The Hawaiian argued that the gesture was intended 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 that 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 gesture of pointing to the ground (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 meaning of those ten seconds. The ten seconds are for the end of the fight, when both fighters agree, and the guy who is 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,” he 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 in UFC 300. Photo: Instagram / UFC
Despite having made the gesture for the first time in 2016, when he beat Ricardo Lamas, Max Holloway immortalized the act of pointing to the ground in UFC 300, in 2024. At the time, 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 SHITTT#UFC300 pic.twitter.com/i9aWXIYgvf
— bradley (@cactusbr4d) April 14, 2024
Holloway repeated the feat in UFC 319, against Dustin poirierHowever, after landing a powerful series of blows, 'Diamante' opted to clinch, avoiding a 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
Read More about: amir albazi, Charles of the Bronx, Greg hardy, Ilia Topuria, Jailton Malhadinho, Jean Silva, Justin gaethje, Max Holloway, Ricardo Lamas
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