"It all started because I fought Ricardo Lamas... I felt like I was handling that fight really good. And in the last 30 seconds, I was moving away, just circling away. He kind of stuck his hand up to me like, 'Yo, what the hell?' I was thinking, 'No way bro,' I was tripping seeing him go like this. And then I slipped something and he went like that again. He was saying nothing but in my mind I was like, 'What is going on? I'm winning. Why is he acting like that?'"
"And then the last time he did it, I was like, 'You know what? Whatever. Ten seconds bro, if you want to be about it, let's see if you are about it.' He threw down though, respect to him."
Max Holloway's iconic move of pointing down and inviting opponents to fight in the final seconds of matches began during his 2016 bout against Ricardo Lamas. While comfortably winning and playing defensively in the final round, Lamas repeatedly threw his hands up in the air, taunting Holloway for coasting. After Lamas repeated this gesture a third time, Holloway abandoned his cautious approach and accepted the invitation to engage in a final brawl. Holloway respects Lamas for honoring the challenge and fighting aggressively. This spontaneous moment evolved into Holloway's signature fighting style that has gained significant popularity in MMA culture.
Read at Sherdog
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