UFC star Max Holloway has delivered a fierce critique of bare-knuckle boxing and slap fighting.
The Hawaiian veteran, celebrated for his endurance and skill in mixed martial arts, made his opinion clear during a live stream. Known for facing elite opponents throughout his career, Holloway has earned respect for his fighting spirit. But even for a warrior like him, some combat formats go too far.
Holloway brands bare-knuckle fights “the stupidest thing ever”
In recent years, both bare-knuckle boxing and slap fighting have exploded in popularity. Slap fighting, heavily pushed by UFC president Dana White, has especially divided fans. Holloway wants no part of it.
“I ain’t ever going to bare-knuckle fighting. That’s the most stupidest thing ever in the world,” he said. “When I’m retired, I’m retired. I’ll maybe do a boxing match but not a bare-knuckle one. That’s ridiculous.”
He ridiculed fighters who step into the ring without gloves. “People that do that, it’s next level. People that do slap, bare-knuckle, bro, you guys are crazy. You guys are actually crazy.”
“The slap one is just nuts”
Holloway also mocked slap fighting, a competition where two fighters trade open-handed strikes with no defense.
“The slap one is so nuts,” he said. “Why would I want to stay there and just be like, ‘Yeah, you can slap me, I slap you.’ That’s crazy.”
For Holloway, the line between sport and spectacle is clear. He sees bare-knuckle boxing and slap fighting as reckless forms of entertainment rather than real competition. And as he made clear, he’ll never be part of either.
