Alexander Volkanovski outstrikes Max Holloway to win UFC featherweight title
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Alexander Volkanovski hits Max Holloway at UFC 245.
LAS VEGAS >> Alexander Volkanovski outpointed Max Holloway to earn a unanimous decision and win the UFC featherweight title in the co-main event of UFC 245 tonight at T-Mobile Arena.
Two judges scored the fight 48-47 and the third had it 50-45 for Volkanovski (21-1), who remains undefeated in the UFC at 8-0.
The Star-Advertiser scored the fight 48-47 for Volkanovski with Holloway winning rounds 2 and 5.
“I’m only 28. I’m only getting better. I’ll be back,” Holloway said in the cage after the fight.
Holloway dropped to 21-5 overall and 17-5 in the UFC with his first loss at 145 pounds in more than six years.
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“He’s really good with his distance. He’s really good with sucking me to his range,” Volkanovski said in the cage after the fight. “Sometimes I started going into his range where he was comfortable and (I) had to pull me out.”
Holloway had won 13 straight fights at 145 pounds. His last loss in the division was against Conor McGregor in August 2013.
Kahuku alum Punahele Soriano opened the night with a first-round knockout of Oskar Piechota in a middleweight fight.
Soriano (7-0) made his UFC debut and dropped Piechota once in the opening 90 seconds and then crushed him with a left hook and a right hand that forced the stoppage at 3:17.
