Max Holloway seized the spotlight at UFC Singapore, making headlines for his spectacular third-round knockout of “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung in the main event. Yet, it wasn’t just his performance in the octagon that garnered attention; Holloway’s walkout to the fight was equally noteworthy.
Holloway’s pride in his Hawaiian heritage was evident as he carried the Hawaiian flag while making his way to the ring. Hailing from Hawaii, Holloway used his platform to symbolize his state, especially during challenging times when wildfires had ravaged the region of Maui, Hawaii.
However, Holloway’s ability to showcase the Hawaiian flag during his walkout was the result of assistance from none other than UFC’s head honcho, Dana White. This was revealed by Holloway himself during an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience in 2019.
According to Holloway, there was a hurdle to overcome due to Reebok’s sponsorship and their policy. Reebok only approved walkouts featuring national flags, and Hawaii being a state, Holloway couldn’t adhere to that policy by displaying the state flag.
Max Holloway helped TKZ up after their fight ❤️ #UFCSingapore pic.twitter.com/uCFXsqiRBu
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 26, 2023
Holloway recounted, “They wasn’t going to let me walk out with the Hawaiian flag. When I first started doing it. Cause that’s when the Reebok came out. I couldn’t put the Hawaiian flag on my shorts or anything. So I was like, ‘I’m going to walk out with the flag.”
In response, Reebok resisted the idea, citing the state flag’s status. Holloway explained, “Reebok was stopping it. They were like, ‘you can’t because it’s a state flag. I was like, ‘nah, we’re going to talk to Dana…’ Dana texted me and said, ‘That’s stupid as sh*t kid, just walk with it.”
Thanks to White’s intervention and his candid response, Holloway was ultimately allowed to proudly display the Hawaiian flag during his walkouts. Even following UFC’s subsequent ban on national flags, Holloway has been granted the privilege to continue his symbolic gesture with the Hawaiian flag intact.
Why are flags banned in the UFC?
The UFC, known for its intense battles in the octagon, implemented a surprising change by banning the display of national flags in their events. This alteration caught the attention of keen-eyed fans who noticed the absence of flags in 2022. The revelation came directly from Dana White, the President of the UFC, during a post-fight press conference following UFC 274.
When queried about the flag ban during the press conference, Dana White’s response was succinct yet impactful. He affirmed, “Yeah,” and when further prodded on the matter, he emphasized, “You guys know why. Let’s not even play that f—king game.”
Dana White confirms the UFC has disallowed fighters from walking out with flags now. #UFC274
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) May 8, 2022
The aftermath of White’s response triggered a wave of online speculations. Numerous questions surfaced: Was the ban a result of objections from a specific country collaborating with UFC? Did Endeavor, the parent company of UFC, communicate concerns? Or did entities like ESPN or Disney contribute to this decision?
A prevailing theory linked the ban to potential controversies surrounding Russian fighters carrying their national flag. Given Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict, there was speculation that the move aimed to sidestep any potential political entanglements. Alternatively, the notion arose that the prohibition could cater to Russian sensitivities regarding the Ukrainian flag.
The flag ban was done because of the many Russian fighters in the UFC, Disney definitely had to do with it https://t.co/qXxrcPgB1o
— Cesar 🇻🇦 (@KaiserTheBased) July 18, 2022
One notable rationale that emerged was the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The global atmosphere is already tense due to the pandemic and international conflicts.
With these factors in mind, UFC might have opted for the flag ban to avoid adding more fuel to the fire and to maintain focus on the sport itself. In a world grappling with significant challenges, UFC seemed to prioritize a drama-free environment in the midst of a pandemic and geopolitical turmoil.