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#4. Max Holloway vs. Alexander Volkanovski (UFC Featherweight Championship)
The second championship fight of the night was billed to be Max Holloway's toughest title defense to date. Alexander 'The Great' Volkanovski was undefeated in the UFC and looked like the Chosen One to take Blessed down. Did he succeed?
Round 1: The champion and the challenger studied each other in the first minute of the fight.
Holloway kicked things off with a jab. Volkanobski fired back with a kick. Holloway kept his distance and landed a few kicks and a right from the outside.
Alexander landed a few good low kicks. He tried to get into the pocket for a big shot but Holloway retreated. Holloway tried to touch his opponent and get into the groove as Volkanovski was looking for a big shot.
Holloway missed with a 1-2 while Alexander kept landing the calf kicks. The Great grazed the champ with a right. Max connected with a low kick. Volkanovski kept getting into the pocket and started to connect with the 1-2s.
They exchanged a few words before engaging in a clinch. The competitive first round ended with a body lock. 10-9 Volkanovski
Round 2: Volkanovski landed a good outside leg kick followed by a heavy calf kick. The strategy was obvious. Alexander looked to slow Holloway's movement down with the leg kicks.
Volkanovski kept chewing up Holloway's legs with various kinds of kicks. The powerful calf kicks kept landing. Holloway wasn't even checking the kicks at this point but his left leg had taken a lot of damage.
Holloway landed a right hand over the top. Alexander attempted a spinning back fist but missed. Holloway switched to southpaw to protect the left leg. Volkanovski attacked the lead right leg instead.
Holloway landed a good combination to the body of Volkanovski. Another competitive round went into the books. 10-9 Volkanovski
Round 3: Max began the round in southpaw. Volkanovski went to the body but Holloway moved out of the way.
Both men missed a technical exchange of strikes with Holloway landing a straight left. Volkanovski landed a good front kick to the body.
Volkaovski pressed forward and attempted a combination. Blessed kept moving around. The Great went low for another kick before going up with a right-hand shot. Volkanovski kept up with Holloway's pace and avoided getting tagged by the incoming strikes.
Max stunned Volkanovski with a left. Alexander got back to working on the legs. Volkanovski landed a string of good shots that included a jab followed by a low kick and a right strike.
Max, however, caught Volkanovski with a knee as he came in. They talked trash at each other with 20 seconds left to go. Max went for a few wild spinning attacks but missed as the third round came to close. 10-9 Volkanovski
Round 4: Volkanovski landed a few solid combinations as Max's movements looked limited.
They exchanged a few jabs before Volkanovski shot for the takedown. Holloway defended it well before the fight got back to the center.
The leg kicks continued to land, however, Max connected with a clean right-hand combination of his own.
Volkanovski landed with a right of his own. Holloway connected with a big uppercut in the pocket. Holloway fired off a left, Volkanovski responded with a swift right.
Both men exchanged words as Volkanovski looked composed as he landed jabs and straight punches. Holloway kicked it up a notch with a fervent combination. Volkanovski liked it as he nodded and got back to the legs.
Round 5: Volkanovski landed good jabs and left leg kick. Holloway tried to land a few strikes but he looked desperate.
This wasn't the Holloway style that we've all seen over the years. Holloway's legs had taken a lot of damage and the effects were all there to be seen.
Holloway tried to put together a few combinations with Volkaonvski slowing down a bit. Volkaonvski initiated the clinch but it lasted for only 20 odd seconds. Volkanovski got into the pocket and landed a huge elbow on the break.
Holloway, too, landed a few shots along the way. Alexander changed levels for the single leg but Holloway stayed firm and attempted a big uppercut. Volkanovski landed a few jabs, but Holloway finally had his opponent backing up. The real Holloway was starting to show up but it could be a little too late for that as both men went the distance.
Result: Alexander Volkanovski def. Max Holloway via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 50-45
That was close but Volkanovski executed his gameplan to the tee and deservedly walked out of the T-Mobile Arena as the new UFC Featherweight Champion.
And just like that, the greatest UFC Featherweight's title reign comes to an end in a close fight.
An instant rematch, anyone?
