Alexander Volkanovski had called it an “inherited” fight, an opportunity to end his rivalry with Max Holloway and stamp out his claim to immortality in the UFC featherweight division.
For Holloway, who at one point considered Jose Aldo’s clear rival in the claim to be the biggest in the division, it was also a matter of “inheritance.”
And so, when the two entered the Octagon at UFC 276 on Saturday night and their eyes met, they both nodded with a gesture of respect, understanding how great that moment was.
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In the end it was Volkanovsky’s turn and the Australian never wanted to give it up, giving a master class everywhere to take a unanimous decision (50-45 x3) victory over Holloway.
What is also unanimous now is that there is no need for a fourth fight, it is not necessary for the main critics of Volkanovski to mention the second fight as a reason to doubt the greatness of the Australian.
As Daniel Cormier, a newly incorporated Hall of Fame member, put it: “Volkanovski is so on a different level tonight.”
“No one can make me fall anymore,” Volkanovsky said.
What made Volkanovski’s triumph even more impressive was the sight of the champion walking down the tunnel after the fight, revealing that he broke his hand in the second round.
“It’s not right,” Volkanovsky laughed.
“I’m pretty sure he’s broken. I know when I break things. He broke in the second round.”
His confidence was also on a completely different level, with Volkanovski mocking Holloway in the first round as he danced gracefully around the octagon, making the most of his speed.
“I’m too fast for him,” the Australian said.
“It looks like Volkanovsky is faster than ever, and it looks like Max is one step behind,” Joe Rogan said in a comment.
“Even a step behind his previous performance.”
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Volkanovski was the faster of the two in the first round, more effective on his shots, almost playing with Holloway enough to let him know he had a lot more left.
The Australian then opened the second with a strong left hook and right hand before the two fighters hooked, with the Australian pushing Holloway into the cage.
Holloway responded with a few shots to the body before Volkanovski elbowed back, then found the challenger with a right counter when the American was wide open.
“Oh, that’s bad,” said a relaxed, controlled Volkanovski, still using his speed to dominate.
Towards the third Holloway needed to increase the volume, but it was easier said than done against Volkanovski, who was impeccable and gave no margin to the rival to move.
The pair changed kicks to the body early, with Volkanovski then landing a large right hand and following with his left shortly after.
Not even the pro-Holloway audience could do anything to stop Volkanovski, with a “Let’s go Alex” chant at a bursting moment when Volkanovski made the former champion look like the shadow of the fighter who dominated Calvin Kattar.
With Volkanovski comfortably grabbing the first three rounds, Holloway needed an end to have a chance to regain his belt.
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But, as Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier said in the comments, it wasn’t as if Holloway was prepared enough to commit to doing so, “touching” Volkanovski rather than throwing anything remarkable.
Volkanovski continued to use his jab effectively to interrupt Holloway’s pace, proving again as one of the most complete fighters the division has ever seen.
In the end there was no coronation moment for Holloway, no decisive punch that put the Las Vegas crowd on their feet.
Instead, for brief periods, there was only a dazed silence, an appreciation that they were witnessing something truly special of the greatest of all time.
“This will be the day it was actually recorded in the logbooks,” Cormier said.
“He’ll have done it in a way that there will be no more questions.”
Well, there is one: after such a dominant performance, what will Volkanovski do next?
The featherweight champion gave a pretty clear answer to this question after the fight, stating his intentions to move up to the lightweight division and become a double champion.
“I want to be busy,” he said.
“I don’t think this division in itself can keep me busy. I want to go up, go for the double champion, then I’ll keep two divisions busy.”