Stephen A. Smith & Shannon Sharpe LOVED the Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje ending | First Take

On First Take, Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe react to Max Holloway recording a last-second KO of Justin Gaethje.
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[@lucastracymma8764]

All of these “hardcore” mma fans in the comments are trying to gatekeep. Who cares if these two don’t know the sport well. The more mainstream coverage mma gets the better. Sure they say casual things but it’s expected.

[@Deuce2524]

I agree Flucas

[@alant9517]

Nah they suck and make the sport sound bad. They have no clue what they are talking about

[@dwill2187]

I don't think Stephen A Smith will bring more fans to the sport. People seeing highlight reel finishes on social media and their friends talking about it is what will.

[@user-sg5uf9cu1f]

Flukas Glazy picked Gaethje

[@trvy8175]

This is good that it’s talked about on this show.

[@YouTubeUser970]

I support these guys promoting the sport to their American football / baseball / basketball audiences

[@CJM23]

100%. Anyone complaining is crazy, 1st take is the most watched sports show on TV and they are talking about Max and Justin. It's awesome.

[@Jin125]

Thank you!! Either MMA fans want the sport to grow or not?? I want fighters to get paid more. They are way undervalued and underpaid for what they go through. Justin literally just had his face rearranged for our entertainment and we take it for granted. Pay that man more money!! Getting mainstream broadcasters like SAS brings in more football/baseball/ basketball fans to the sport and helps to force pay increases. We are literally seeing the same thing happen with women’s basketball and money pouring into the sport. Either you want MMA to grow as a fan or you just want to be in your own bubble.

[@user-sg5uf9cu1f]

@@Jin125 Yea its fine

[@JIZQU]

ESPN needs to get attention of MMA fans the fans are not looking to ESPN for MMA news . putting these 2 non MMA idiots on here talking like they think they know what they are talking about is not what MMA fans want . Sonnen and DC is great . a old retired football player and an old loud mouth that never played a sport is not .

[@thisisgodkazzz]

American audience? UFC is an American company that is widely popular here lmao

[@HYPEMANTV0]

MAX BECAME IMMORTAL 💯

[@JayWest14]

And if he can go up and get that 155lbs strap, that would throw him in the GOAT conversation in my book!! This year could play out perfect for Max, especially with Conor back in the mix and Dustin fighting Islam for the belt.

[@Fraustyy]

People forget Max is only 31. He's already won and defended UFC gold, he's fought nothing but killers the last 7 years. He really is the people's fighter. So is Justin, Justin didn't even need to take the fight but signed because he knew it was gonna give the people a fight to remember! Props to both men

[@Journeyman2585]

He's 32

[@Fraustyy]

@@Journeyman2585 my bad

[@Journeyman2585]

@@Fraustyy all good. I only know because he's born the same year as my brother lol.

[@Under-Kaoz]

91 babies hooah​@@Journeyman2585

[@Under-Kaoz]

​​@@FraustyyGreat points! Dont forget that Masvidal refused to put that BMF on the line for anyone as well. While Justin said "lets just fight!"

[@HYPEMANTV0]

THAT WAS THE DEFINITION OF A BMF ‼️💯

[@anasshahid224]

Yes sir 🔥

[@jw3154]

Max Holloway is going mainstream bro. LETS GO!

[@dronesinconstruction]

The real ones know Stephen needs to stop talking MMA

[@412pgh2]

If you want fighters to get paid more, you want these guys talking about it. Dont be a gate keeper.

[@koreyg8552]

He said nothing wrong really

[@davianamos3743]

He’s one of the biggest names in sports talk you want him talking MMA… y’all want the sport to grow but get mad at process

[@buckboogie7685]

Omg!!!!

[@lukemurray4950]

Stephen A Smith was right about Cowboy and Conor fight and everyone bashed him for it.

[@AlexAlex-xy9vb]

I’m a hardcore mma fan and very glad they’re covering this

[@parachut4509]

No count necessary ? These guys know that mma is not boxing right ?

[@jmz2144]

You know what a Knockout is, right?

[@joshpaul6417]

say what you want about stephen but he seems to be abit more equipment to talk about mma now compared to when ufc first went with espn

[@mohanad0408]

Just imagine if he is even more knowledgable. The sport truly needs someone like this.

[@thewind6047]

@@mohanad0408no they don’t lol

[@mohanad0408]

@@thewind6047 Honestly you don't want someone like this instead of Brett or the other boring MMA journalists?

[@ShingDingo]

@@thewind6047 i definitely think the sport would benefit from having a mainstream face like SAS talk about it every now and then, even as a causal. He’s been learning and at the end of the day, more fans!

[@thecornellcombatsportsshow]

hopefully these guys bring more fans to the sport

[@Tik.i]

He called him to the center of the ring because 1. He’s a warrior and 2. He respects the stand and bang 3. It’s a respect thing to give Gaethje a chance at the end

[@sandman62100]

Max Holloway was locked in and turned on. He refused to stop coming until he finished him and left him absolutely STIFF. Unbelievable

[@weederkanaut6600]

Yo....Have you heard of the word phrasing? 😂😂😂

[@koreyg8552]

Ayyoo pause, your talk got me stiff

[@sandman62100]

@@weederkanaut6600 I'm just saying Max looked dialed in. You could see it in his eyes

[@TheCrimsonOne508]

Been watching MMA and training since the Pride days, that was probably the coldest knockout I’ve ever seen

[@proven7103]

They don’t count in the UFC..

[@mambalevel1017]

That’s not what they were saying… they said those face plant knockouts are so clear, they wouldn’t even count in boxing…. It’s a clear knockout, no discussion

[@CJM23]

It's an expression. MMA gets on the biggest sports show in America and all yall are doing is nit picking every word these guys say.

[@jasonbaldini]

That’s not what he said. He’s saying even in boxing there would not have been a count, like when Francis was knocked out. Your attack shows your lack of experience.

[@anasshahid224]

Man wow!!! That KO by Max Holloway was absolutely insane!! He invited Justin Gaethje to throw it down in the center of the octagon, and getting the KO in the last second! Insanity 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@MagnusGalactusOG]

Contrary to the uneducated opinion, there was defense. it was head movement. Max had the better head movement.

[@TheGuyCalledX]

It was the angles and the footwork. And the amazing timing on the body kicks and spinning back kicka

[@thenostalgiabusiness]

@@TheGuyCalledXI think he meant in the last 10 seconds. Of course there was defense throughout the rest of the fight.

[@killa9478]

Max kept his hands up and used his footwork. It was perfect.

[@MagnusGalactusOG]

@@thenostalgiabusiness I mean in the last 10 seconds when he was standing still, he was using head movement to avoid punches.

[@thenostalgiabusiness]

@@MagnusGalactusOG I know. Some others seem to think you meant there was no defense throughout the fight, which is absurd.

[@loganhowlett3024]

I am a die hard fan. And I LOVE Stephen A. and Shannon covering MMA because you get a fresh perspective. Not the overly balanced sometimes scripted MMA narrative.

[@MagnusGalactusOG]

The best is blessed !

[@caseycremmen6116]

“This brotha already hurt you” 😂😂😂😂😂

[@Bfr3shBrian]

Justin knocked Max down earlier too but Max still chose to trade with him at the end.

[@sincerelysirsinatra3686]

Yall mad ahahahah be happy they are bringing more light to this beautiful sport

[@user-ni4nu8sg7e]

Max was already a legend he legit immortalized himself in the history books with that

[@k.o.r.e3997]

Max is the ultimate sportsman and game fighter. Holloway was winning by shots connected , damage inflicted , and pure finesse. Blessed gave Gaethje a final chance in the form of an explosion that could have backfired but in confidence did it to prove he would beat Justin at his own game where he was more dangerous. He set the ultimate bar of gamesmanship.

[@carlosperdomo9466]

Shannon said no 10 count required. Does he even watch MMA?

[@startorfinish]

he's not very smart

[@fyloopa364]

It’s literally common expression

[@Jin125]

Yeah, he knows MMA doesn’t have counts. I took it as an expression of what happened.

[@Joker-jz9cn]

Does that mean you arent smart enough to not know what he meant?

[@sincerelysirsinatra3686]

@@startorfinishyou must not watch tv

[@iiRolltide]

Watched all the fights starting with the early prelims, loved almost all the fights, can always count on aljo to bring the energy down lol but good win by him, woke up the next morning and the first thing I did was watch max’s KO again. I’m still buzzing off it fr

[@valarmorghulis2350]

If the late great Howard Cosell was calling the fight, he’d say “DOWN GOES GAETHJE! (as in his famous “DOWN GOES FRAZIER!” from Frazier vs Foreman)…

[@RKM_DarKo]

I understand SAS's perspective as a relative newcomer to the sport. I won't chastise him for it. A shout out to Unc Sha for providing a good explanation to follow up. Honestly, from a rhetorical perspective, it's probably beneficial that Stephen A. brought that up. I guarantee that there are people whose first time watching the sport was this past weekend. Odds are some actually agreed with that sentiment. So, its mention on the show, followed by an immediate explanation, served as a valuable learning experience for those new to the sport who may not grasp some of its more nuanced aspects. Now they can contextualize it without feeling alone in their thoughts or risking a negative reaction from a die-hard fan. The reality is that nobody should have wanted the stand-and-bang challenge more than Gaethje. Max was giving him one last chance to steal the win. That fight is one to show someone to convince them to follow the sport. I'm pleased that a show like First Take chose to discuss this specific moment. Such moments are how new fans are born.

[@gageflores285]

I was actually speechless when that happened and I usually go crazy when knockouts happen

[@itzChillPill]

I left me hardcore mma fandom at ufc300, I’ve been watching mma since I was a kid but after attending ufc300 it being the peak of events I’ve attended over my lifetime, it’s safe to say I’ve joined the rest of the casuals, no more investing my time getting to know the new era, because nothing will ever beat the best era (golden era) 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@112233JORDAN]

I expected Max to do that at the last 10 seconds - with the meet me at the center body language, and he didnt disappoint. (He's done this before, for those ESPN guys that only just started watching MMA)

[@rapperogsmooth2783]

That was the most savage thing Ive ever seen watching the ufc I think that beats Robbie vs Rory

[@user-pt5gr4dw9d]

love it, mma is the new wave

[@angelosstolenmemes5492]

ufc getting coverage by SAS AND SS is amazing for the sport in my opinion. Brings more eyes to the sport

[@BboyZoinks]

Uncle Shannon is a fan I’m glad and Stephen A talking about mma is always good to bring eyes to mma

[@kevindimauro3937]

As much as fans like to bash Stephen A for his takes on MMA, I wish he would talk about it more on the regular ESPN channel. I think he actually does love the sport and that fans are too critical of him. He has a massive platform, and we should be happy whenever he talks positively of our beloved sport.

[@BobbyHo2022]

Once these 2 bring ufc to the mainstream. Its gonna be craxy

[@brandondiego4681]

Great look for UFC !

[@barkacademies3829]

We need platforms and analysts like this talking about the sport if we want mma to get on the same level of other pro sports

[@issacojeda5056]

We love uncle sharp!

[@lebumjames6516]

So glad that was fight of the night and gaethje got a 300k bonus. Dude give the fans a war every time and I know mma fans are gonna miss him when he’s gone

[@buckboogie7685]

It’s the BMF title!!!!,,,, you understand!!!!!!

[@natemarx4999]

I bet neither Shannon or Stephen A. don’t even know who Max and Justin fought prior to this fight. I would love to hear their “take” on TKZ.

[@YouTubeUser970]

I like these guys promoting the sport to their American football / baseball / basketball audiences

[@davianamos3743]

Stop gate keeping

[@TheodolosQ]

to be fair you have to have a really high iq to understand cage fighting

[@thetimelesstea1045]

Well tbf he does know who “Garth” is

[@EatDatBitchAwp]

@@davianamos3743every little thing is gate keeping to non educated idiots like you

[@ForceGhostAnakin]

Hey guys, thanks for covering my favorite sport!

[@JDCovah]

Makes me happy seeing these guys talk about my sport. Even if they are a bit green to it haha

[@dayday3688]

MMA is way more genuine and organic than any ball sport

[@micahjohnson138]

I'm mma fan but wemby to nice to watch so dont agree and i follow mma since jon jones started most mma fan watch since connor lol

[@bobs437]

MMA HAS NO COUNT

[@forever1909]

Agree

[@jonathantaylor7167]

Everybody hating is a different kind of casual. They don’t know fighting, they don’t know life. They just know the rhetoric of the mma community

[@GoGetYourShinebox]

Wait, are they sat next to each other or is this a split screen? Lol

[@Hanashi_mma]

Im watching them talk about this fight like the IRS on taxes

[@souldoc303]

Shannon on mma 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@mikevchu]

Real MMA fans remember Pete Sell vs Scott Smith

[@handssolo8519]

First pay per view I’ve ever paid for and definitely worth every penny

[@martonfitness]

I LOVE that these 2 bring the UFC to the mainstream. STFU gatekeepers

[@AlexColberg]

According to Stephen A., he loves those knock-outs, but he hated that Gaethje got knocked out that way. Wondering which way Stephen A. would have preferred Gaethje to be knocked out. Maybe a more gentle knock-out.

[@Whaleindowed]

Stephen didn’t like Justin going all out at the end? That was Justin’s only way to win, of course he accepted Max’s offer at the end.

[@2BagSugar]

I think we'll all be surprised the day Holloway gets rocked

[@Advicare]

Shannon said on nightcap last night Francis went over and signed with strikeforce. 😂😂😂

[@RobertHubbard-tu5xf]

Super fight

[@bossguyo6424]

Did they really say no count necessary

[@OHANA-BEACH-SUITES]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@andrewbuckman7169]

Love seeing mma talked about on first take! A bunch of dorks in the comments gate keeping mma, this is how the sport grows

[@MikeEST9811]

its not about wise decisions or doing whats smart.. ITS ABOUT THE FIGHT!

[@replicacity92]

I hate to see Justin go down to but they’re two warriors and that’s what happens when they fight the best. Boxers nowadays don’t do that, that’s why so many are undefeated

[@kendrickellis8726]

B.M.F SMH 😂😂😂😂 WOW WHAT AN KO

[@constantinelycouris2325]

Max only calls them to the centre of the ring when he's winning, which just makes it even more insane. This was Masvidal's knee x1000

[@RenzaissanceTV]

What?? He did the same with poirier

[@kylewade8704]

He’s only done it twice before this and 1 of them he was losing the fight bad so idk what ur talking about😂

[@keyboard2758]

@@RenzaissanceTVno poirer did it to him

[@alexmorris9339]

Real ones know these guys aren’t even casuals. They don’t know anything even if they say something correct

[@mlarios6495]

It's pretty weird hearing them talking about UFC.

[@LegendaryKoba]

the best featherweight of all time ! CHANGE MY MIND!!!

[@lebraa]

Max was the volume guy, gaeyhje was the puncher. Hence the story

[@seriustraco]

THE GREATEST SPORT IN THE WORLD

[@WKuyo]

"The middle of the ring"...

[@juniorj.baptiste9205]

I support UFC being talked about on first take. All you haters need to STFU. This is how the sport grows, more viewership, investment, incentivr for better up & coming fighters.. You rlly kust have nothing going on in your life to take this high moral ground of superiority that you know more MMA then Stephen A.

[@WolfDaddy69]

Great take by unc Shannon for the first time with ESPN MMA also bring more fans

[@yuri_tahdid]

McGregor vs. Holloway after Connor loses to Chandler XD. Max deserves that payday.

[@RandomCitizen014]

Man these shows should pay more attention to MMA, it’s really one of the most exciting sports in the world

[@xavierm4866]

Jesus! How much bigger is Stephen A's forhead going to get?? Time to throw the towel in fella!

[@Evilevilmonkeyy]

0:40 stut up Stephen a

[@tomwilson5721]

Bobby Green isnt a top10 fighter. He makes 400k a bout. Name one boxer who isnt a top10 making 400k per bout. Show me

[@dookester.manoftruth7773]

Best KO in *UFC History* , all things considered, hands down: 1) Holloway vs Gaethje (Up a weightclass, against the heaviest hitter, called for it last-second) 2) Congo vs. Barry (knocked out to KO in a couple seconds) 3) Crocop vs. Gonzaga ("Right kick, hospital. Left kick cemeta--WHAT?!") 4) Silva vs. Weidman (The most improbable) 5) Aldo vs. Mcgregor (Absolutely jaw-dropping surprise after uncharacteristic start) 6) TKZ vs. Rodriguez (Surprise elbow, last second) 7) Shogun vs. Machida (Standing KO vs. the Undefeated Karate Master) 8) Miocic vs. Cormier (Smaller wrestler/LHW champ KO's the UFC's most accomplished HW champ) 9) Etim vs. Barboza (most beautiful kick landed on a taller fighter who'd never been KO'd) 11) Uno vs. Penn (Championship-level fight, fighter gets obliterated by flying knee & punches) 11) Hendo vs. Bisping (Possibly most devastating KO to iron-chin)

[@RiiCaRd09328]

Bro these two dudes are ridiculous just came here to comment

[@eme1ec]

Aunt Shay Shay talking about the BMF.

[@Freethebees99]

Stephen probably don’t know but Max last fight he was hurt by Justin whole fight and Max still call for the 10 second throw down at the end. Max is a Baaaaad man regardless of his condition

[@Journeyman2585]

Reading this made my head hurt, and I still don't understand what you're trying to say.

[@VeraxMusic]

I gotta admit, I never liked Max, always thought he was cringy. I take alllll that back. He's an all time legend, he could retire today.

[@Knowaaa]

My god. Never fails to surprise me how little Stephen understands MMA

[@jasonflipz]

cry about it gatekeeper

[@Knowaaa]

@@jasonflipz I’d never gatekeep a fan of the sport. When someone is being paid millions of dollars to give their opinion I think it’s only fair to expect they know what they’re talking about, right?

[@johnc4182]

Yeah agree with all the comments. They shouldn't talk about mma...

[@WernerRachtman]

For once the man is right about Mma.

[@khoa8841]

Who the fook are these guys?!! 😂😂

[@theemperor4901]

Stephen A Smith is completely wrong here. It wasn't Justin who took the most risk it was Holloway. Max was probably up all four rounds, it was reckless by Max ( BMF for a reason ) to do that in last 10 seconds of the fight that he already had in the bag but then Madlad gave us the Greatest UFC moment ever.

[@mileslett7696]

wait does unc know ball?

[@Jus1408]

SAS should NOT be talking about any combat sports with the way he punches 🤣

[@MrHispanicz]

hey mollyyyyyyy

[@rjvicedo]

These nobody should stop talking about MMA.

[@Hans_ON_FIRE]

Who could possibly care what these two think about MMA?

[@kdogglv]

More UFC talk and less about the irrelevant Lakers & Cowboys

[@112233JORDAN]

seems like they are finally catching on. Took a whole pandemic to get them excited to talk about MMA. Now the UFC is like the NBA, with the random celebs showing up just for clout

[@flashpointprdx]

Mike holloway had him down for the count

[@robbyrobinson4500]

Max gave Justin a chance the last 10 seconds. That is honorable. Shut up Stephen A

[@retrospectsam]

Wait this man say no count in MMA

[@Stonecoldsteveharvey]

Haha did they just say no count needed.