A Fighter’s Flame

On August 8th of 2023, wildfires hit the island of Maui, Hawaii after dry conditions in the northern region mixed with Hurricane Dora in the South. More than 100 people confirmed deceased once the fires ended with damages to the area estimated at about $6 billion (Omer).

UFC featherweight contender Max Holloway was booked to go against The Korean Zombie Chan-sung Jung on August 26th in Singapore, prompting both Holloway and the UFC to gesture out to the island.

Holloway was born not too far in Waianae, Hawaii, and being the only Hawaiian on the card, decided to spread awareness for the damages done to his native land. From the start of fight week, into media day, press conference, and fight night, Holloway, his camp, other fighters, and UFC President Dana White could be seen wearing shirts with the phrase, “UFC loves Hawaii”, these shirts were also sold with 100% of the proceeds going toward the relief efforts (Bohn). The UFC also donated $1 million in support of the relief efforts to the island. 

A huge chunk of media coverage on this event was centered around the emotional press conference Holloway gave when asked about the damage done to his native land:

• A crying Holloway took the time to give notice to how nonchalant the people in power were upon the damage being done stating, “You guys saw how everything went down, how the Lahaina people were let down by the state, by the government,” then went on to support the people living in the area, giving credit to how the community itself stepped up, “Then, after the Hawaiians stepped up, the world stepped up,” (Pattle).

After the press conference was over, much of the media outlets on the news dove into his words criticizing the Lahaina government especially after authorities in place decided not to sound the warning signs leaving many Hawaiians susceptible to the fire. Both Holloway and people outside of the island found out that immediately after the fires ceased, big developers came in with zero relief effort and tried to purchase the land. 

“I always go in there with Hawaii on my back, but it feels a little bit heavier now” – Max “Blessed” Holloway

Two native Hawaiians, former UFC champion BJ Penn and current middleweight Brad Tavares both spoke out about the real damage done concerning victims of the fire and the disappointing actions of the officials in charge:

• Tavares gave updates to the relief done in Maui with his close family and friends being involved in the sheltering of victims who lost their homes
• Penn, who once sought to run as governor in Hawaii some time ago, gave notice to how the people in Hawaii feel about these land developers acting as vultures to scavenge the ravaged land. Penn declared that there is a shift in politics in Hawaii now that the wildfires happened with people being sick of the socialist-communist rule of the island

I believe that Max Holloway opened a dialogue about the Hawaiian government. Of course, the fight night event happened at the end of the month whereas the fires occurred in the beginning of August, but Holloway, being the main attraction and a focal performer from Hawaii did not stray away from first condemning the officials that didn’t seem to care for the lives of their people.

The media narrative enhanced the impact tenfold. Max Holloway has been such a loved fighter inside and outside of the octagon pretty much since he started with the UFC in 2010.

Regarded as mixed martial arts icon, a former 2-time featherweight champion, and holder of the most significant strikes ever given, Hawaii and the rest of the United States has had his back as much as he has represented the island.

• While his fight was across the water in Singapore, it felt like the event was in Hawaii with “UFC loves Hawaii” across Holloway, Zombie, and White’s chest as well as how much money the UFC made and gave to the island. 

• Usually the UFC is known for being very stiff with their revenue but this time around, and probably as a favor to one of their most beloved fighters, it felt as though the promotion was seeking to advocate for something bigger than their fight night