Max Holloway has made a career out of getting punched in the face. But apparently, getting barreled in a wave pool is an even more daunting task.
The Hawaiian UFC star recently traded the Octagon for Shizunami Surf Stadium in Japan, where he surfed alongside his wife, former Championship Tour surfer Alessa Quizon. Holloway arrived with one overriding objective: stuff himself inside one of the PerfectSwell-powered pool’s mechanical tubes.
Documenting the trip in a recent YouTube video, Holloway shared his excitement. And the manmade wave pool provided the ultimate playground for Holloway. Check out Holloway hunting hollow barrels below.
“We’re here where I want to be after I retire in Osaka,” Holloway joked. “But we’re going to head on over to Shizunami. And for one reason only, that’s the wave pool.”
The video showcases Holloway absolutely charging the artificial waves and successfully tucking into the barrel. The relentless repetition of the wave pool left his crew exhausted, prompting Holloway to playfully compare the physical toll to his day job.
“As you can see, everybody’s pooped out,” Holloway laughed. “My wife finally knows what it is. The life of a fighter.”
He added, jokingly: “This will be the start of my professional surfing debut!”
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But maybe he shouldn’t quit his dayjob just yet. Speaking of…
While Holloway enjoyed the Japanese wave pool, heavy drama continues to swirl around him back in the MMA world. At UFC 329, Holloway welcomed UFC legend Conor McGregor back to the Octagon. The bout ended abruptly just 69 seconds in when McGregor landed awkwardly off a jumping kick and tore his ACL. Recognizing the severe injury, Holloway immediately showed mercy, backing off and motioning for the referee to step in.
Instead of showing gratitude, McGregor has recently taken to the media to talk smack about Holloway’s sportsmanship.
“If I fight you and you look for the ref, ‘Ref, stop the fight,’ who stops the fight?” McGregor complained. “Don’t stop the fight, finish the f***ing fight. You’re the man calling for the fight to be stopped.”
While McGregor faces a grueling rehabilitation for his knee, Holloway appears perfectly content letting the drama roll off his back as he chases barrels in Japan.
Related: Watch: UFC Champ Max Holloway Surfs Japan’s Best Wavepool
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