Alex Volkanovski has ended his rivalry with Max Holloway decisively, retaining his featherweight title within the co-main occasion of UFC 276.
In probably the most anticipated fights of the 12 months, it could be the Aussie who proved too sturdy, incomes himself a dominant unanimous resolution victory and leaving the challenger bloodied.
The three judges scored the competition 50-45 inside a packed T-Cell Area in Las Vegas.
Holloway stepped into the ring with the preferred track on the planet proper now: up that hill by Kate Bush, earlier than the champion strutted confidently into the ring on the Aussie traditional, Beneath.
In an thrilling first spherical, Volkanovski landed the brunt of heavy punches, however the challenger got here again late with a flurry of fine counterpunches.
The champion regarded just like the sooner of the 2 fighters within the first spherical, not permitting Holloway to get too shut.
Quick left by Volk lands. Max is struggling to discover a place to land. Volk is sharp. Holloway lastly lands an enormous proper hand. They combine it up. The group warms as much as them. Volkanovski’s sturdy spherical. 10-9 Volkanovski.
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) July 3, 2022
Volkanovski pinned Holloway halfway by way of the second spherical earlier than elbowing onerous into the fence. Moments later, Volkanovski landed a superb proper hand that break up his opponent on the forehead line.
Every little thing is okay for Volkanovski up to now. It is simply sooner in each manner and Max’s face is dripping with blood. 10-9 Volkanovski (20-18 Volkanovski)
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) July 3, 2022
The Aussie star remained defensively sturdy all through the third spherical, dodging a flurry of punches and countering properly to open up Holloway’s reduce, who continued to battle with Volkanovski’s tempo.
One other proper and left from Volkanovski touchdown on Holloway. He’s beginning to run away with this. Holloway lands a knee to the physique and a brief proper, however Volkanovski detonates two bombs to Holloway’s head. 10-9 Volkanovski (30-27 Volkanovski)
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) July 3, 2022
Holloway obtained extra therapy for the nasty minimize over his eye between rounds, earlier than getting hit within the clinch with some good photographs from Volkanovski. Spherical 4 was in all probability Holloway’s greatest general, however he nonetheless dominated the champion.
They combine it up and Alex closes out the trade with a two punch mixture. That rattling jab continues to search out his residence for Volk. Max’s head kick barely misses. 10-9 Volkanovski (40-36 Volkanovski)
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) July 3, 2022
Needing a stoppage within the ultimate spherical, Holloway could not create a lot strain and Volkanovski wore down the clock completely, even touchdown a couple of extra onerous photographs so as to add insult to harm.
Volkanovski has now gained 23 fights in a row, and continues to determine himself as top-of-the-line pound-for-pound fighters on the planet at the moment.
