Alexander Volkanovski beat Max Holloway for the 3rd time Saturday night, protecting his featherweight title by consentaneous choice with a dominant striking efficiency at UFC 276.
Volkanovski (25-1) extended his winning streak to 22 battles with a commanding screen versus Holloway (23-7), the previous champ at 145 pounds. Volkanovski performed a sharp boxing videogame strategy versus one of the UFC’s finest punchers, bloodying Holloway’s face early on and gradually increasing the penalty into the last minutes.
Middleweight champ Israel Adesanya dealtwith Jared Cannonier in the primary occasion from T-Mobile Arena on the Vegas Strip.
The penultimate bout of UFC 276 concluded a remarkable trilogy inbetween Volkanovski and Holloway, mostlikely the 2 biggest featherweights in UFC history exterior of long-reigning champ Jose Aldo. Volkanovski won 2 extremely competitive battles by choice over Holloway in 2019 and 2020, however Holloway won his next 2 battles to reassert his claim to another shot at the belt he held for 3 years.
“Max Holloway is an outright monster,” Volkanovski stated. “That strength that we both had, I required it. I truly required it. I had to get in my own head.”
Two competent strikers naturally kept the battle on the feet, however the smallersized Volkanovski capably closed the range to do damage in the veryfirst 2 rounds, especially in opening a nasty cut above Holloway’s left eye. Holloway’s responses decreased as his cuts grew bigger, and Volkanovski patiently racked up scoring shots to leave no doubt in the choice.
Holloway’s whole face was crimson at the last bell. Volkanovski won every round on all 3 judges’ scorecards, 50-45.
Before the title battles, Alex Pereira destroyed Sean Strickland with strikes midway through the veryfirst round of a triumph that burnished the Brazilian kickboxing champ’s status as an instant title competitor.
Bryan Barbarena likewise stopped Robbie Lawler on strikes late in the 2nd round of a harsh battle in which both veterans soakedup remarkable penalty. After losing the veryfirst round on 2 judges’ scorecards, Barbarena ended it with a lengthened flurry that started with a series of step-in elbows to break down the defense of the 40-year-old Lawler, who had his veryfirst UFC bout in 2002.
On the undercard, Jim Miller set a UFC record with his 24th profession triumph, endingup Donald Cerrone with a guillotine choke in the 2nd round.
The 38-year-old Miller’s landmark triumph broke his tie with Cerrone and Andrei Arlovski for the UFC’s profession wins mark.
“You’re neverever going to see the (combined) numbers that came into this battle ever onceagain, however I’m thrilled to get the W,” Miller stated. “That guillotine, I can do it in my sleep. I understood it was just a matter of time.”
The 39-year-old Cerrone retired in the cage after the bout. Cerrone beat Miller in their veryfirst conference in 2014, however Cerrone is now 4-10 giventhat 2016 with a seven-fight winless streak.
Veteran flyweight Jessica Eye revealed her retirement after losing a choice to Maycee Barber. Eye, who turns 36 this month, combated for the 125-pound title in 2019, however has now lost 5 of 6.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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