Max Holloway’s wife isn’t just a headline; it’s a topic that sparks curiosity among fight fans and casual readers alike. While his name often lights up arenas and dominates UFC highlight reels, there’s more to the man than his record in the cage. Born in Honolulu and raised in Waianae, Hawaii, Holloway’s story has roots in a place where toughness is a way of life, and those early years shaped the person the world now knows.
His career has taken him from local gyms to championship belts, making him one of the UFC’s most respected fighters. With the BMF title resting on his shoulder and a reputation as one of the sport’s most skilled strikers, Holloway’s achievements are hard to ignore. Yet, for all the attention on his professional triumphs, it’s the quieter, more personal moments that often leave fans wondering about the man behind the fighter.
That curiosity is exactly where we’re headed. In the next sections, we’ll turn the spotlight away from weigh-ins and title defenses to explore the relationships and personal life. From Max Holloway’s wife to the stories of love and connection that have been part of his life, this is where the gloves come off and the personal side steps in.
Who Is Max Holloway’s Wife? Their Love Story and Marriage
Max is married to Alessa Quizon, a professional surfer from Hawaii whose laid-back charm and fierce competitive spirit perfectly complement the UFC star. The pair tied the knot on April 16, 2022, in a dreamy beachside ceremony at the Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute in Ko Olina, Hawaii.
Surrounded by their families, including Max’s son, Rush, the celebration was filled with warm island breezes, heartfelt vows, and plenty of laughter. Alessa shared glimpses of their big day on Instagram, gushing, “I married the love of my life,” and warning followers she’d be flooding their feeds with wedding memories. Max’s own post was just as heartfelt: “I get to spend the rest of my life with my soulmate.”
Their love story stretches back years, though it didn’t start with instant romance. Alessa and Max attended the same school and had mutual friends, but her move to California at 18 kept them from crossing paths deeply.
They reconnected through social circles when she returned home after eight years. By then, Max had been quietly, persistently reaching out, offering encouragement, striking up conversations, and even sliding into her DMs, which she often left on seen. His consistency became a running joke between them, and when she needed help finding a gym back in Hawaii, he was quick to guide her.
It wasn’t fame that caught her attention; she admits she didn’t realize just how big of a star he was until she saw the public’s reaction to him, but rather his kindness, discipline, and elite athlete’s mindset. The two confirmed their relationship in February 2020.
Max proposed just months into their relationship, in the most “them” way possible. The duo announced their engagement on Nov. 17, 2020. After a competitive game at home, he tricked her into offering her hand, then dropped to one knee. No grand stage, no scripted spectacle; just an intimate, playful moment that reflected their bond. It was simple, genuine, and exactly what they wanted.
More About Alessa Quizon and Her Obsession with Surfing
Alessa grew up on the west side of Oahu, in the surf town of Makawao, Hawaii, where the ocean wasn’t just scenery, it was a way of life. Surfing runs deep in her family, spanning two to three generations, and her own story started early.
“When I was two I was thrown in the water, and I fell in love,” she once said. By four, her father had her riding waves, setting the stage for a lifelong career. Watching her older sister compete in surf contests fueled that passion, showing her the dedication it took to excel.
That dedication paid off. Quizon climbed the ranks to compete on the world tour, going up against the best in the sport and earning a career-high ranking of seventeenth in the world. One of her proudest moments came in the Women’s Pro Semi-Finals at Honolua Bay, where she surfed perfect Hawaiian waves with her family cheering from the shore.
“We got to make Hawaii proud,” she said of that day. But for all the travel that comes with professional surfing, she’s quick to say that leaving home only deepened her appreciation for it. “Hawaii’s paradise, so I’m like, ‘Why am I taking this place for granted?’” she reflected.
Quizon is as methodical as she is fearless. She studies ocean patterns before paddling out, knowing that respect for the sea is part of survival. “When I feel like I can handle the wave, I throw myself out there,” she told Teen Vogue.
That mindset has earned the admiration of her husband, Max Holloway, who often points out the parallels between her sport and his own. As he likes to say, “When you’re surfing, you’re fighting Mother Nature, my guy!.”
Max Holloway’s First Wife and Son
Holloway married Hawaiian model and actress Kaimana Pa’aluhi in 2012. The two had been together for years before deciding to wed, both growing up in Hawaii and sharing deep ties to the islands.
Pa’aluhi began her modeling career as a teenager, signing with Wilhelmina Hawaii at just 16, and also took on acting roles in several films. Together, they welcomed a son, Rush, who quickly became the center of their world.
The marriage came to an end in 2014, and their divorce was finalized in 2017. Even after separating, reports suggested they maintained a cordial co-parenting arrangement, with both parents committed to providing Rush a supportive and loving environment.
That commitment, however, would later be tested when Holloway entered into a five-year custody battle over his son. He described the process as “the hardest fight” of his life, a legal struggle he compared to his toughest bouts in the UFC.
In 2023, that fight reached its conclusion when Holloway and his current wife, Alessa Quizon, announced that Rush’s adoption by Alessa had been finalized. Holloway shared the news on Instagram, thanking his son for being “brave and strong through it all” and celebrating that Rush “finally got to choose and keep the mom that he deserves.”
Alessa’s own post reflected her promise to always be there for him, marking not just a legal milestone, but the creation of a permanent, loving family unit.
