Max Holloway has urged UFC fighters to stop butchering his iconic point down to the canvas move, which he famously does in the final ten seconds of a fight.
This gesture went viral, especially after Holloway’s last-moment icy-cold knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 with just one second left on the clock. Since then, many fighters have tried to replicate Holloway’s call to action, but none have done it as perfectly as “Blessed” and Gaethje.
Holloway has made it clear that this iconic gesture should only be made in the final 10 seconds of the closing stanza by the fighter who is winning the bout. If both fighters say yes to the call, they must be willing to stand and trade recklessly without stepping back or clinching. In a recent interview with David Adesanya, Holloway also set the rules for pointing down:
If I had to set the rules, it would be 10 seconds of the last round… And if you do call it, please don’t step back, don’t shoot, and don’t clinch… The guy who’s winning is the one who needs to give that blessing, because he’s ahead.”
Check out Max Holloway’s comments below:
Max Holloway on UFC fighters butchering his iconic pointing down moment
BMF champion Max Holloway will defend his title against Charles Oliveira in a rematch this weekend in the main event of UFC 326. If this bout goes till Round 5, Oliveira will be waiting for Holloway’s signature point‑down, which can potentially cause another high‑reel moment. “Do Bronxs” has also been practicing for the same.
On UFC 326 media day, when Holloway was asked to give his views on other fighters trying to copy his style and butchering it, he said:
It is what it is. I can’t take it back. If they’re just going to keep butchering it, that’s on them. I think that moment [UFC 300] transcended the sport, and it was amazing. I saw somebody with my shirt on, and I was like, ‘Oh, sick shirt,’ and they said, ‘I’m not even an MMA fan. I saw this clip, and then I saw your shirt in Pakistan, and that’s why I bought it.’ That’s how cool that moment was.”
He added that if other fighters want to secure similar highlight reel finishes like him with the finger-point-down move, they should keep trying it:
If guys are looking for that type of moment, keep doing it. Keep trying it.”
When Holloway was asked who could execute the point down challenge best after him, “Blessed” named his former rival Gaethje:
The guy who agreed to it. Justin Gaethje. He’s a nutso. He’s crazy. We’d have to roll it in for sure.”
Check out Max Holloway’s comments below:
