Max Holloway clears the air on viral clip of his wife Alessa Quizon recounting how she met the UFC great

Max Holloway has lately faced considerable trolling from certain sections of the MMA community and beyond over some remarks made by his wife, Alessa Quizon, in 2025. 

The MMA icon started dating Quizon back in 2020 and tied the knot with her in 2022. She's consistently appeared alongside him at some of his marquee UFC fights and has also legally adopted Holloway's son (Rush Holloway) from his previous marriage. 

Well, Holloway's detractors have drawn attention to viral video clips featuring Quizon narrating how their relationship commenced. They've jibed at the UFC star while pointing out that Quizon, admittedly, steered clear of him for around five years when he actively pursued a potential relationship with her. 

Holloway has now taken to social media to provide some context to Quizon's remarks and hit back at the netizens who've trolled him. 

Surfer Alessa Quizon and MMA combatant Max Holloway shed light on their relationship last year

In an edition of the Brotherlee Time Podcast last year, former professional surfer Alessa Quizon and MMA star Max Holloway opened up on their relationship and much more. Quizon initially noted that all she knew about Holloway was that they were from the same school, their mothers had mutual friends, and that he was a fighter. 

She recalled moving from her native Hawaii to California. It was to facilitate better travel via the LAX airport in California to fulfil her travel obligations for her surfing career. Quizon noted that she moved from Hawaii to California at the age of 18 and lived there for eight years, so was unaware of the magnitude of Holloway's rise as a star back home in Hawaii. 

Additionally, she highlighted that she'd stopped watching UFC after Chuck Liddell retired, having previously been a viewer of the MMA promotion with her father. 

Quizon suggested that Holloway was the one who initiated their relationship, persistently attempting to connect with her over a five-year time period. 

She appeared to clarify that Holloway wasn't "creepy" but came across as persistent and all-in with his intentions to be associated with her on a personal level. Holloway jestingly pointed out that Quizon would leave his social media messages to her on read and not respond. 

Moreover, Quizon recounted that she didn't watch UFC at the time and was unaware of how prominent a personality Holloway was in the organization and the sport of mixed martial arts.

The longtime surfing enthusiast, who hails from Hawaii akin to Holloway, said she knew he was a great athlete and later realized his standing in his sport. 

Quizon stated, "I didn't know he was a big deal until I got home. And then everybody's like, 'Yeah, Max, how's it going? Can I get a picture?' And I'm like, 'Oh. Shoot.' I didn't say anything to him. I was like, 'This guy must be a big deal.'" 

Apparently, a friend told her about Holloway being a big star in MMA, and she claims to have subsequently done her own research about "Blessed." 

Watch Alessa Quizon and Max Holloway revisit the origin of their relationship below (*comments at the 50:25-minute mark of the video): 

Max Holloway clears the air on viral remarks from clips of his and Alessa Quizon's podcast appearance, hitting back at netizens trolling him

Some social media users have gone as far as alleging that Alessa Quizon entered a relationship with Max Holloway only after realizing he was a wealthy and successful UFC star. 

Holloway, who's coming off a TKO win in his rematch against combat sports megastar Conor McGregor, has called for a trilogy fight against the Irishman. Many believe that the ex-UFC featherweight champion and ex-BMF titlist is, as such, expected to possibly accrue yet another lucrative payday against McGregor. 

On that note, some of Holloway's critics have conjectured that his history of high-profile MMA fights and earnings in the UFC are what attracted Quizon to him. 

Here’s the context:

1. She was engaged while leaving me on read for 5 years. lol

So if anything I’m an ass that kept reaching out. I lived by a code though if you have a bf and he can’t defend your honor you have a girlfriend hahaha

2. She was a professional surfer and… https://t.co/itiurbc57J

— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) July 18, 2026

Holloway took to X to react to a clip of himself and Quizon from their aforementioned podcast appearance. Hitting back at those who've been trolling him over Quizon's comments, he wrote:

"Here's the context: 1. She was engaged while leaving me on read for 5 years. lol. So if anything I'm an a*s that kept reaching out. I lived by a code though if you have a bf and he can't defend your honor you have a girlfriend hahaha."

Holloway added, "2. She was a professional surfer and actually really good at it. She has her own money. Get the full story before just watching click baits and edited parts." 

One ought to note that Holloway, in another X post, acknowledged that his aforesaid "code" was incorrect and that he's learned and has evolved as a person. 

That’s code was when I was young still learning lol

— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) July 18, 2026