Australian Alexander Volkanovski has defeated Max Holloway for the third time in his career, defending his featherweight title by unanimous decision with a surprisingly dominant performance at UFC 276 in Las Vegas.
Key points:
- Volkanovski won each round on the three judges ’scorecards, 50-45
- He extended his streak of victories to 22 fights
- The Australian had previously defeated Holloway in 2019 and 2020
Volkanovski (25-1) extended his winning streak to 22 fights with an impressive display against American Holloway (23-7), the former champion with 145 pounds.
The Australian executed a sharp boxing game plan against one of the UFC’s best punchers, bleeding Holloway’s face from the start and steadily increasing the punishment until the final minutes.
The penultimate UFC 276 bout concluded a memorable trilogy between Volkanovski and Holloway, probably the two greatest featherweight in UFC history outside of champion Jose Aldo.
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Volkanovski won two highly competitive fights by decision over Holloway in 2019 and 2020, but Holloway won his next two fights to reaffirm his claim to another belt shot he held for three years.
“Max Holloway is an absolute beast,” Volkanovski said.
“That intensity we both had, I needed it. I needed it a lot. I had to put it in my own head.”
Two competent strikers kept the fight afloat, but little Volkanovski closed out the distance to hurt in the first two rounds, especially by opening a nasty cut over Holloway’s left eye.
Holloway’s responses dwindled as his cuts grew larger, and Volkanovski patiently amassed scoring shots to leave no doubt about the decision.
All of Holloway’s face was crimson on the final bell. Volkanovski won each round on the three judges ’scorecards, 50-45.
Israel Adesanya also retained his middleweight belt with a lukewarm victory by unanimous decision over Jared Cannonier in the main event.
Before the title fights, Alex Pereira knocked down Sean Strickland with punches in the middle of the first round of a victory that made the Brazilian kickboxing champion an immediate title contender.
AP
Posted 2 hours, 2 hours ago, dig. July 3, 2022 at 4:52 AM, last updated 1 hour, 1 hours ago, dig. July 3, 2022 at 6:04 AM