UFC 276: Volkanovski tops Holloway, Cerrone calls it quits
Alexander Volkanovski defeated Max Holloway for the third time Saturday evening, defending his featherweight title by unanimous determination with a dominant hanging efficiency at UFC 276.
Volkanovski (25-1) prolonged his profitable streak to 22 fights with a commanding show towards Holloway (23-7), the previous champion at 145 kilos. Volkanovski executed a pointy boxing recreation plan towards one of many UFC’s greatest punchers, bloodying Holloway’s face early on and steadily rising the punishment into the ultimate minutes.
Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya confronted Jared Cannonier in the principle occasion from T-Cellular Enviornment on the Vegas Strip.
The penultimate bout of UFC 276 concluded a memorable trilogy between Volkanovski and Holloway, possible the 2 biggest featherweights in UFC historical past exterior of long-reigning champ Jose Aldo. Volkanovski received two extremely aggressive fights by determination over Holloway in 2019 and 2020, however Holloway received his subsequent two fights to reassert his declare to a different shot on the belt he held for 3 years.
“Max Holloway is an absolute beast,” Volkanovski mentioned. “That depth that we each had, I wanted it. I actually wanted it. I needed to get in my very own head.”
Two proficient strikers understandably saved the combat on the ft, however the smaller Volkanovski capably closed the space to do injury within the first two rounds, notably in opening a nasty minimize above Holloway’s left eye. Holloway’s solutions dwindled as his cuts grew bigger, and Volkanovski patiently racked up scoring pictures to go away little question within the determination.
Holloway’s whole face was crimson on the last bell. Volkanovski received each spherical on all three judges’ scorecards, 50-45.
Earlier than the title fights, Alex Pereira demolished Sean Strickland with strikes halfway by way of the primary spherical of a victory that burnished the Brazilian kickboxing champion’s standing as an instantaneous title contender.
Bryan Barbarena additionally stopped Robbie Lawler on strikes late within the second spherical of a brutal combat wherein each veterans absorbed large punishment. After shedding the primary spherical on two judges’ scorecards, Barbarena ended it with a chronic flurry that started with a sequence of step-in elbows to interrupt down the protection of the 40-year-old Lawler, who had his first UFC bout in 2002.
On the undercard, Jim Miller set a UFC file along with his twenty fourth profession victory, ending Donald Cerrone with a guillotine choke within the second spherical.
The 38-year-old Miller’s landmark victory broke his tie with Cerrone and Andrei Arlovski for the UFC’s profession wins mark.
“You’re by no means going to see the (mixed) numbers that got here into this combat ever once more, however I’m excited to get the W,” Miller mentioned. “That guillotine, I can do it in my sleep. I knew it was solely a matter of time.”
The 39-year-old Cerrone retired within the cage after the bout. Cerrone beat Miller of their first assembly in 2014, however Cerrone is now 4-10 since 2016 with a seven-fight winless streak.
Veteran flyweight Jessica Eye introduced her retirement after shedding a call to Maycee Barber. Eye, who turns 36 this month, fought for the 125-pound title in 2019, however has now misplaced 5 of six.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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