Max Holloway’s 14-year-old son Rush, born to biological mother Kaimana Pa’aluhi, was legally adopted by stepmom Alessa Quizon after a five-year custody battle ended in 2025.
For UFC fans, Max Holloway is known as “Blessed,” a warrior who brings relentless pressure and volume striking inside the octagon. But outside the cage, Holloway holds an even more important title: father. His son, Rush Holloway, has become a familiar face to those who follow the Hawaiian’s career, often seen celebrating victories or comforting his father after tough losses. While Holloway is famously private about his personal life, the story of his son—his name, his age, and the two women who have filled the role of “mother” in his life—is a compelling narrative of family, resilience, and love.
Rush Holloway is Max Holloway’s only child. He was born on January 4, 2012. This date is particularly significant in Holloway’s career; the fighter has stated that the day he received his first UFC contract was also the day Rush was born. As of July 2026, Rush is 14 years old. He has been a constant presence at his father’s fights, from the post-fight press conference at UFC 245 to the cageside celebrations at UFC 329. Over the years, fans have watched him grow up, and a touching moment that went viral was when Rush, at age seven, asked his father if he could call Holloway’s then-girlfriend (now wife), Alessa, “mom”.
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The Biological Mother: Kaimana Pa’aluhi
Rush’s biological mother is Kaimana Pa’aluhi, who was Max Holloway’s first wife. The couple married in 2012, the same year Rush was born. However, their marriage was short-lived, and they separated in 2014, eventually divorcing in 2017. Since the separation, Rush has lived primarily with his father.
Details about Pa’aluhi’s relationship with Rush have largely remained private, but it became a public matter when Holloway revealed in August 2025 that a grueling five-year custody battle over Rush had finally been resolved. Holloway described it as the “hardest fight of my life”.
In the aftermath of the custody resolution, Pa’aluhi shared her perspective on social media, expressing her pain and disagreement with the outcome. While the specific details of the custody arrangements remain confidential, the legal battle officially came to a close, allowing the family to move forward.
The Adoptive Mother: Alessa Quizon
The conclusion of the custody battle coincided with a profoundly emotional milestone for the Holloway family: Max’s current wife, Alessa Quizon, legally adopted Rush as her own son. Quizon, a well-known surfer, began dating Holloway in 2020 and they married on April 16, 2022. She has been a constant and loving presence in Rush’s life, and the adoption was something Rush himself had voiced he wanted for a long time.
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Holloway shared the news on Instagram, writing, “Yesterday, Alessa got to adopt Rush as his legal mother. Thank you to my wife… for coming in and accepting Rush as your own”. He added that it was a “big win for the Holloways”, but more importantly, “Rush finally got to choose and keep the mom that he deserves”. Quizon also expressed her love for Rush in a heartfelt post, promising to always be there for him. This legal adoption cemented the family unit that had already been built on years of love and care, formally making Alessa Quizon Rush’s mother in every sense of the word.
