Holloway and Charles face off at UFC. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC
Max Holloway warned Charles Oliveira about his famous gesture of pointing to the ground to provoke a stand-up fight in the final seconds of a bout. The Hawaiian faces the Brazilian in the main event of UFC 326, in a duel valid for the BMF belt, and the 'Blessed Lion' is already preparing for the traditional provocation. In light of this, the holder of the symbolic title of 'toughest' in the Ultimate Fighting Championship stated that he intends to impose some conditions should the moment arise.
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.
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“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.
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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