UFC 245 results: Alexander Volkanovski ends the title reign of Max Holloway
The UFC decided to give the MMA community a stacked holiday gift on Saturday night with their final pay-per-view event of 2019, UFC 245 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
With a wildly fascinating main event between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington for the welterweight title on the top of everyone’s minds, the co-main event for the featherweight title between Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski creates a near equal amount of intrigue. Holloway captured the interim featherweight championship a little over three years ago when he finished Anthony Pettis in the main event of UFC 206. Since then, “Blessed” has finished Jose Aldo — on two different occasions — Brian Ortega, and picked up a unanimous decision win over Frankie Edgar in the main event of July’s UFC 240 event.
Heading into Saturday night, many believe that Volkanovski will be the biggest test in Holloway’s featherweight run. “The Great” heads into UFC 245 on a remarkable 17-fight winning streak — 7 of those wins inside the Octagon. In his most recent appearance, Volkanovski defeated Aldo via unanimous decision at UFC 237 to lock up the top contender spot at 145-pounds.
Here is how the UFC 245 co-main event went down for the featherweight title between Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski, including round-by-round scoring. For full results of the event, check them out right here.
ROUND 1
The featherweight title fight is underway. Volkanovski with a leg kick early. Holloway with a clean jab and the challenger answers with a hard leg kick. Holloway with a leg kick of his own. The champ with a right hand, Volkanovski answers with a hard jab. Volkanovski charges in with a right hand but comes up short. Left hand from the challenger and a leg kick behind it. They trade punches with Volkanovski landing the harder shot. Leg kick agains lands from the challenger. Holloway comes up short with a left hand, Volkanovski with another hard leg kick and a left hand behind it. Left hand lands from the challenger and Holloway is smiling before he lands a hard leg kick. High kick blocked by Holloway. Final minute of the round and Volkanovski lands a counter left hand. Volkanovski shoots in and they clinch against the fence. Holloway separates as we hit the final 30 seconds. Volkanovski comes in hard with a combination. Side kick to the chest from Holloway and the round ends with both guys clinching in the center. Fun round.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 for Volkanovski
ROUND 2
They touch gloves and Holloway’s lead leg is a nice shade of red. Volkanovski lands three leg kicks early in the round, followed by a fourth and fifth. Holloway fires a right hand and Volkanovski lands another leg kick. Another leg kick from the challenger. Volkanovski is moving very well and chewing up that leg of the champion. Another hard leg kick from Volkanovski, and another. They trade with little effect from either fighter. Again, Volkanovski lands a hard leg kick. Halfway through the round and the challenger continues to target the lead leg of Holloway. The champ opens up with a nice combination. Right hand from Holloway lands and Volkanovski lands another leg kick on the right side. Nice counter left hand by the challenger, followed by a right hand. Holloway switched stances and is getting that other leg hammered on as well. Under 40 seconds to go and Holloway lands a hard combination. Leg kick, again, from Volkanovski, Holloway counters with a right hand. Another hard leg kick from the challenger, they trade punches as the round ends.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 for Volkanovski
ROUND 3
They meet in the middle and Holloway is moving forward. Right hand from Volkanovski on the now southpaw champion. Left hand lands by Holloway as he looks a lot looser in this third round. Leg kick checked by Holloway and he answers with a left hand. Volkanovski with a nice left hand, and another. Volkanovski eats an uppercut but answers with a left hand. Side kick by Holloway caught and the challenger lands a big right hand. Another right hand lands from Volkanovski. Alexander Volkanovski with a combination as were more than halfway through the round. Leg kick from Volkanovski and another left and behind it. Left hand over the top from the challenger as Holloway tries to chase down his opponent. Jab lands from Volkanovski, followed by a right hand from the inside. Volkanovski back to the leg kick and Holloway counters with a beautiful knee to the body. They are yapping away at each other. Spinning kick to the body comes up short from Holloway, but he lands a kick to the body. Holloway throws a spinning back fist that comes up short as the round ends. Brilliant performance from Volkanovski so far.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 for Volkanovski
ROUND 4
Championship rounds begin and Holloway needs to get some momentum in his favor. Volkanovski lands a hard combination, followed by a clean right hand. Left hand from the challenger and a hard right. Volkanovski looks as fresh as he did when the fight began. Holloway with a nice left hand and Volkanovski shoots for a double to the fence. Holloway defends and they meet in the center. Left hand to the body and a leg kick from Volkanovski, Holloway answers with a left uppercut. Holloway with a right hand and a side kick to the body. A pair of leg kicks from the challenger switches the stance of Holloway. Right hand from Volkanovski and another leg kick behind it. A pair of jabs from Holloway, and a big uppercut. The champ is having his best round so far but Volkanovski continues to land those leg kicks. Body kick from Holloway lands as they continue to talk to each other. Under a minute to go in the round as Volkanovski lands another leg kick. Big exchange from both fighters, Volkanovski lands the significant shot — a right hand. Right hand to the body from Holloway which is the final strike of the round. Holloway may have squeaked it out but he’s still two rounds behind with one to go.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 for Holloway
ROUND 5
Final round is underway and they show respect towards one another. Volkanovski lands another leg kick off of a jab. Holloway with a nice right hand to the body. Volkanovski goes back to the low kick which has been the difference in this fight. Volkanovski with a hard jab and a right hand over the top. Holloway answers with a right hand to the body — that strike has been the most effective for the champion. Holloway scores with a combination as he turns up the volume with a hard right kick to the ribs of the challenger. Three minutes left in this one as Holloway lands a left hand. The challenger is slowing down slightly. Halfway through the round and they tie up in the center. Volkanovski powers Holloway back to the fence, the champ separated. Leg kick from the challenger and Holloway scored with a hard right hand. Volkanovski answers with a left over the top. The champion lands another clean shot. Volkanovski shoots in, Holloway lands a right hand as we are inside the final minute. Holloway lands a kick to the body. Volkanovski with a left hand and a hard kick to the body. Holloway with a hard right hand with 20 seconds to go. Volkanovski ties the champion up and Holloway throws a late flurry as the fight comes to an end. I think we have a new champion.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 for Holloway and the fight 48-47 for Alexander Volkanovski
Official result: Alexander Volkanovski def. Max Holloway via unanimous decision (48-47 x2, 50-45)
