This isn’t a practice. This is a fight.
Max Holloway is the champion MMA doesn’t deserve. The former featherweight champ continues to live like he has all the belts, leading by example with a heartfelt post on Instagram Monday in which he urged fight fans to help each other, while heeding warnings on social isolation in the face of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Holloway’s statement flies in the face of the “fight through it” mentality many athletes have displayed since the onset of the Wuhan Coronavirus. But as the death toll rises (surpassing 7,000 on Monday), it’s become clear that fighting through this one isn’t an option.
Holloway clearly sees that, calling coronavirus a “fight” — but “one we don’t want to take into deep waters.” Sure he’s healthy, but the sooner we get past this the better.
He also underscored his message with a stunningly poignant analogy — suggesting the possibility of spreading the virus to his own family. “I can give it to my grandma and maybe she doesn’t beat it,” wrote Holloway. “Then what? All my UFC title belts ain’t gonna make me tough enough to deal with that responsibility.”
A strong argument for social isolation.
Read Max Holloway’s full statement below.
I don’t think there’s a doc out there who would say COVID-19 is more dangerous than fighting for a living. I’m not afraid of it to be honest. It’s like the flu but 10x more deadly. So what? I put myself in more danger every day. So for anybody else who feels that way I agree.
But I also learned it’s not about me. I can carry it. I can have no symptoms like Donovan Mitchell. Then I can give it to my grandma and maybe she doesn’t beat it. Then what? All my UFC title belts ain’t gonna make me tough enough to deal with that responsibility.
Hawaii doesn’t have that many hospital beds… If just a few hundred elderly need to be in ICU for treatment then what? What happens then when Sista Moki gets in a car accident and the ICU is already full? I don’t know. Nobody does and we don’t want to find out.
This isn’t about most of us who could get it and beat it. It’s about the people who won’t beat it so we gotta make sure we do our part to protect them. Take the social distancing seriously. Pretend you already have it. Distance yourself to protect others AND yourself.
I know when the govt says “prepare but don’t panic” that basically screams panic. I get it. But none of us need 48 rolls of toilet paper… So if you know someone who may need supplies, we need to help them and share. But also remember we could already have it and not know, so be VERY careful?
And if you see me in the store, smile, point to the ground if you one banga, but we don’t need to take photos. Most people who go to the store in normal times probably only interact with one or two strangers. When I go anywhere I have hundreds of interactions, a lot of people come up to me. I’m a magnet for viruses. It’s not good for your loved ones health for you to interact with me now.
I promise when this is all over my team will do meet and greets so everyone who wants a photo or autograph can get one, so don’t worry you will not be missing your chance.
This isn’t practice. This is a fight. You guys know me. I love to take fights into deep waters. This isn’t one we want to take into deep waters. The quicker we can slow the spread the quicker we get back to normal.
