Alexander Volkanovski and Israel Adesanya retain titles with points wins at UFC 276

Alexander Volkanovski cemented his status as the dominant force of the UFC's featherweight division after wrapping up his trilogy against Max Holloway with an impressive title defence on Sunday morning.

Volkanovski defeated Holloway for the third time, defending his 145-pound title by unanimous decision with a striking masterclass at UFC 276.

Israel Adesanya also retained his middleweight belt with considerably less flair, winning a tepid unanimous-decision victory over Jared Cannonier in the main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Volkanovski (25-1) extended his winning streak to 22 fights with a commanding display against Holloway (23-7), the former featherweight champion. The Australian executed a sharp boxing game plan against one of the UFC’s best punchers, bloodying Holloway’s face early on and steadily increasing the punishment into the final minutes.

“It’s a bit of a journey, this rivalry,” Volkanovski said after winning every round on all three judges’ scorecards, 50-45.. “Taking the belt, having the rematch and then the talk and all that. There was a lot of ups and downs in there, but it was good to finally put an end to it and silence a lot of people. A lot of people that needed shutting up.

“Max Holloway is an absolute beast,” Volkanovski added. “That intensity that we both had, I needed it. I really needed it. I had to get in my own head.”

Two proficient strikers understandably kept the fight on the feet, but the smaller Volkanovski capably closed the distance to do damage in the first two rounds, particularly in opening a nasty cut above Holloway’s left eye. Holloway’s answers dwindled as his cuts grew larger, and Volkanovski patiently racked up scoring shots to leave no doubt in the decision.

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