UFC 245: Alex Volkanovski chops Max Holloway down to take featherweight title in upset
- Australian torches Holloway with leg kicks as he enacts perfect game plan to take unanimous decision
- Volkanovski snaps Holloway’s 14-fight featherweight win streak
Alexander Volkanovski secured a huge upset as he snapped Max Holloway’s 14-fight win streak at featherweight to claim his title at UFC 245.
The Australian torched Holloway with a UFC record number of leg kicks in front of his watching City Kick-boxing teammate Israel Adesanya, claiming a unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards.
Two judges scored it 48-47 for Volkanovski, and the third had it 50-45. The Auckland-based gym now has two UFC champions as its reputation continues to soar under the guidance of head coach Eugene Bareman.
Volkanovski sank to his knees in tears as he was announced the winner. “I’m telling you, I’m gonna stay champion a long time. Australia, I’m bringing it back home, baby,” he said in his post-fight interview in the Octagon.
Volkanovski improved his record to 21-1, while Holloway sank to 21-5, suffering his first defeat at featherweight since Conor McGregor beat him in 2013.
“I’m only 28, I’m only getting better, I’ll be back boys,” the Hawaiian said. “I felt good, there’s three guys whose decision mattered. It didn’t go my way. At the end of the day, it is what it is.”
