They want to slap me

Max Holloway understands the risk every time he points to the center of the octagon, even if his coaches would rather he didn’t.

Ahead of his BMF title defense against Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 on March 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Holloway addressed the now-famous gesture that has become a defining part of his career. The move, typically reserved for the final 10 seconds of a fight, invites opponents to trade without hesitation.

It is a tactic his corner strongly opposes. Holloway said his coaches consistently urge him to disengage in those moments and protect a lead. In a recent interview on Israel Adesanya‘s YouTube channel, Holloway said:

“They hate it. They hate it. They tell me not to ever do that. They tell me to f*cking run away, but they’re not gonna ever tell me what to do. I’m in there. You know what I mean? Like, I’m in there. I’m like, coaches, I love you guys, but come on.”

He added:

“There are just some things that you guys came up with the game plan. You guys made me fight this way the whole fight. Just give me these 10 seconds, please. And if I’m a jackass in that 10 seconds, then you can tell me what it is, you know? But right now, coaches, I love you guys, but they hate it, bro. Bro, you can ask any of my coaches, bro. They want to slap me all the time.”

Check out Max Holloway’s comments below (14:10):

The routine first gained attention against Ricardo Lamas in 2016 and reached a whole new level at UFC 300 when Holloway knocked out Justin Gaethje with one second left after initiating a final exchange. He later defended the symbolic BMF belt against Dustin Poirier in their trilogy bout in 2025.

Now permanently competing at 155 pounds, Holloway enters UFC 326 with a 27-8 record and momentum built on high-output striking and durability. A win over Oliveira in their rematch could move him closer to a shot at the undisputed lightweight title.

Max Holloway dismisses striker vs. grappler narrative ahead of Charles Oliveira clash

Max Holloway is not buying into the familiar striker versus grappler storyline as he prepares to defend his BMF title against Charles Oliveira.

Oliveira, a former UFC lightweight champion, holds the record for most submission wins and remains one of the division’s most dangerous finishers on the mat. That reputation has led many to suggest Holloway should avoid extended ground exchanges.

Holloway disagrees with that assessment. He views the matchup as a complete mixed martial arts contest rather than a one-dimensional battle. Previewing the clash in an interview with Stake, Holloway said:

“I find it funny, people say that this is a striker vs grappler matchup, but this is MMA. Charles is not a straight jiu-jitsu guy, he uses his strikes to set up his grappling. I’ve seen some people say, ‘If it goes to the ground, it’s over for Max,’ and I’m like, ‘What!’ I am very confident in my takedown defense, but also my ground game. I’ve been training in jiu-jitsu for years, I love it. I have way more jiu-jitsu sessions now than any other aspect, and I actually like them the most.”