Former UFC featherweight champion and current BMF titleholder Max Holloway recently credited “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung the true originator of the iconic “point down and brawl” gesture in MMA. Max Holloway’s “point down” gesture has become one of the most recognizable moments in MMA.
Max Holloway’s “Point Down” Gesture
The move first gained widespread attention at UFC 199 during Holloway’s fight with Ricardo Lamas. With ten seconds left and Holloway comfortably ahead, he pointed to the center of the octagon, inviting Lamas to stand and trade punches until the final bell. The “point down” has since become a signature of Holloway’s style, appearing in other high-profile bouts, such as his knockout win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, where he again pointed to the center and finished the fight with a dramatic right hand in the final seconds.
Max Holloway and The Korean Zombie
During a video blog filmed on his visit to Korea, Holloway reflected on the influence Jung had on his own fighting style, even crediting him with the point down and brawl gesture. Max Holloway explained:
“I based a lot of my game around him. He did the point down stuff, you know, he did the point down stuff without pointing down. He’s through, and he didn’t do it in the last 10 seconds, he did it in the first one second in the first round. He’s an insane guy. I told you in the fight, he don’t know what’s going on, bro. He don’t feel nothing. I had it in the fight and he missed. In the fight, he went into zombie mode.
“Like I said, I looked up to this man when I was in high school. I watched him fight many times. So this guy’s the inspiration, you know. Without a Korean Zombie, there wouldn’t be a Max Holloway.”
Holloway’s own “point down and swing” move, where he signals to his opponent to stand and trade punches in the center of the cage, has become a signature moment in his fights and has been widely adopted in the Korean MMA scene. This gesture encapsulates Holloway’s willingness to engage in high-risk, high-reward exchanges, a trait he attributes to the example set by The Korean Zombie.
The two fighters met in the octagon at UFC Fight Night 225 in Singapore in August 2023. Holloway won the main event with a knockout just 23 seconds into the third round, sending Jung into retirement. Despite the outcome, the bout was celebrated for its action and mutual respect, earning them Fight of the Night honors.
Since their fight, Holloway and The Korean Zombie have developed a friendship, highlighted by Holloway’s recent trip to South Korea. Upon arrival, Holloway was greeted by a large crowd of fans and by Jung himself, who presented him with flowers at the airport. The two spent time together at Jung’s gym, where they sparred for an audience of local fighters, exchanged stories, and participated in events for aspiring MMA athletes.
Looking ahead, Holloway is set to defend his BMF title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 318 in New Orleans on July 19, 2025. This trilogy bout will also serve as Poirier’s retirement fight. Holloway, who has moved up permanently to the lightweight division, is seeking his first win over Poirier after two previous losses. The matchup is highly anticipated, given the fighters’ history and the stakes of the BMF title.
