https://youtube.com/watch?v=VF9uIoWFKbY
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foreign God bless oh my goodness I’m excited this is it this is it this is as good as it gets in the sport walking out of that Arena on fight Island two years ago at UFC 251 we were all expectant that these two would engage again it stands to reason 25 years from now they will be talking about this rivalry series Holloway is in white volkanovsky in the black and gold befitting a champion [Applause] Max trying to put him on his heels right away [Applause] know anything about Alexander volcanovski you know that he will take his time make his reads understand how he wants the song to play and then he’ll start to fight his fight he will never rush he will never put himself in danger by trying to start too fast he is he is completely in tune with having 25 minutes [Applause] again [Applause] volkanovsky with a faint heavy Style Holloway touches the lead leg of bulkanovski about a minutecom by round one [Applause] after really set on that uppercut there as Halloween went to the body [Applause] Holloway had a lot of success with the uppercut in fight number two was doing a great job of timing it as volkanovsky was entering right hand gets home for volkanovsky a lot of Fates by Max lifting that left knee to try to draw a reaction from both nice combination by The Champ pretty good head movement defensively by Holloway both guys are reading trying to find out what improvements have been made what changes and strategies nice right hand moment ago by volkanovsky good body kick from Max there volcomovski was insistent that he didn’t fight well in fight number two and he pointed to that as to why he felt like he’d be able to really control Max Holloway tonight but Max feels like he made a ton of improvements in training camp he’s gotten so much better today that he’s not even the same guy that fought him in Abu Dhabi that was another good right hand by balkanovsky and a good inside low kick as well so the big shot so far have been landed by the champion they just missed with another one [Applause] volkanovsky starting to find a home for that right hand he darts in so quick his change of speed is so good [Applause] that’s another one there by the champ [Applause] volcanovsky suggesting he has the speed Advantage here on the feet lies to that head kick off ring from Holloway volkonowsky’s talking to him tell him he’s just she’s saying he’s just too quick for him beautiful Jab oh good right hand by volkanovski [Applause] Max is having a hard time with the timing with the speed yeah volcanovsky’s fast it seems a little quicker tonight well he just keeps getting better that’s the bottom line he stung him with that left hand and a right outstanding start for the champion another left hand gets home and a right to the body as well and most importantly look how good he’s being defensively very responsible on the defensive side he keeps getting back to space after he gets his shots off [Applause] short knee to the body for Holloway controlling that right wrist to volkanovsky now little cut under the right eye of Holloway here in round one good right hand by Max another good right hand by Max they’re getting after it and that plays the Holloway’s favorite a longer the combinations because if you’re if you’re not the faster guy you want to stay close you want to extend everything so that your shots start to get there pretty good response from Holloway late in the round back elbow gets home round two coming up all right coach Dean Thomas your thoughts thus far Max is very aware of that leg kick which is why he’s got his feet a little closer but by doing so as he’s swearing his upper body up as well and that’s making him a bigger Target which is why Alex is able to get them punches off on him I like the corner advice teller Holloway you don’t have to match the big shots he’s got to get more active they want him to try and overwhelm him with his activity like we had seen on so many occasions but the problem with that is that in the first two fights mokonovsky is able to stay with that the speed and the angles of vulcanovsky are giving Holloway problems good jab from Balkan good low kick yep [Music] [Applause] Halloween’s gonna have to throw more Fates at vulcanovski because volcanovsky when he feels like Max is going to enter he loads up and starts to go [Applause] oh [Applause] in these long combinations it seemed like volkanos is getting to the Target a little better yeah it does and volcanowski also has that rare combination of power and volume a lot of guys that have a lot of power they don’t have the endurance to fire high volume with that power volkanovski does back Holloway’s keeping that pressure on and he’s going to do that for 25 minutes Vulcan Oscar has to recognize that Holloway will not back up he’s going to stay in his page just like this now watch for the inside triple volkonowsky so physically strong always got to lift the right underhook if he wants to get off the cage volkanovski trips takes the bat Max is doing a really good job of attacking the hands great job defensively though by Holloway in that sequence takedown defense holds up under three minutes here in round two tell you one thing that Holloway doesn’t get enough credit for is this chance his chin is just crazy it’s incredible I think the Holloway corner is asking for the right thing because because he’s having a bit of a problem trying to get volkanovsky he’s got to just get very active that short shot opened up a big cut or so it appears over the eye Halloween that’s bad it’s leaking bands and it’s in a terrible spot so some definite adversity now for Holloway with that cut Midway through round two oh it’s squirting out yeah it’s all over his leg look at it [Music] yeah he’s already having a hard time seeing out of that left eye foreign telling him to draw him in Holloway staying focused rip the body [Applause] that won’t change Holloway’s going to continue to press those kicks will work for Holloway at a distance that’s one effective weapon that I think would really serve him well to use a lot of to utilize that height and reach Advantage the best way is with the kicks man that is a nasty cut really nasty nice sequence there for Holloway [Applause] under a minute to go in the round must be wild being a cup man when you see a gash like that knowing what you’ve got to do in about 51 seconds there’s gonna be a ton of Vaseline in that thing try to slow the bleeding but then the moment he gets hit again it’s just going to open up that was a good left hook landed there by Holloway yeah good right hand there as well always getting some shots in here no doubt he’s undeterred I think he’s gonna probably have to take more risk now with the cut than he intended to good inside low cake by the Champs yeah Holloway was not expecting that nice advancing knee for Holloway [Applause] nice jab in there by Holloway short left gets home for volcanovsky we are through 10 minutes of the UFC featherweight championship [Applause] let’s go let’s go rob Monroe as good a cut man as there is in the business and he stopped the bleeding but until he gets hit again [Applause] round three Alexander volkanovski and Max Holloway we will keep an eye on that cut to say the least [Music] you know we’ve had these two fights between these two in the second fight Holloway started really well in rounds one and two volcanovski made the adjustments can Holloway do the same thing after the first two rounds Alex fought so beautifully jab heavy approach from volkanovsky here early round three Holloway counters to the body it almost seems it does it just feels like it seems like he’s trying to pick your shots and be a bit more measured right everything that he’s doing isn’t thrown to hurt Alexander he’s trying to just touch him because if you remember in fight one vote won by scoring points and Max was trying to really get after him I think he’s trying to do the same thing to Alex huh just score points [Applause] beautiful job there by volcanovsky defensively [Applause] he has made Max Miss 68 of the time unofficially [Music] Holloway did not miss there [Music] [Applause] foreign I think that would really help him because when you move as well as volkanovsky you’re not going to catch him with the hands you’ve got to use your legs to cut them off kick him on the exits volkanovski speed looks tremendous tonight and that other eye the right eye appears to be bothering Holloway largely courtesy of that volcanovsky Jab well that was a good Left Hand by Holloway caught him to switch [Applause] foreign [Applause] good combination from volkanovsky appears the cut has now been reopened nice shot by Holloway to fight for that underhook green digging the underhook Holloway should be knee into here but you got to be careful because volkonowski does a great job of inside tripping foreign [Music] they’re just both so good at defending along the side of the octagon [Music] [Music] [Applause] nice spinning elbow [Applause] [Music] there’s that volkanovsky jab yet again it’s been his best weapon tonight his jab has started everything for him right hand yep slip and rip with the right hand for volkanovski coming up on a minute to go round three [Applause] [Music] great right hand from volcanovski catches all the way on the way and it seems like volcanovsky is faster than Epsom yeah it seemed much faster than he was in the last fights and it seems like Holloway is just a step behind and I think a step behind his previous performances I just think that vulcanovsky looks better you know I think he just continues to improve and even defensively look how he blocked that right hand Max is so good normally at overwhelming people with activity but because you know vulcanovsky’s not going anywhere you got to really measure how you approach I thought maybe there was a need from Holloway that might have caused a cut on vulcanovsky perhaps that’s Max’s blood waning seconds here of round three high kick from Holloway partially blocked the right hand got through 15 minutes down let’s take a look here at that beautiful jab from the champion and here’s a right hand it’s just Alexander volkanovski getting off first repeatedly over and over again and that has been the story of these rounds so far look at that Jab and Max just can’t seem to find his rhythm so Joe Rylan Lazarus there in the corner Max Holloway wants him to mix up the weapons here as we hit the championship rounds yeah he wants some new and then call you mix up the weapons and you know you hear him he understands they’re saying it’s not good yeah it’s not good for us they’re saying it they can at least they’re being honest with them they’re telling them how the fight’s going right now Alexander volkanovsky is fighting a beautiful fight you know me and my family we love Max Holloway and I just got a text message that hey man this dude’s really good and he is showing a different level tonight and you see he’s getting better in terms of his land percentage as the fight goes on definitely no cut on his forehead by the way and you don’t know how much that affected Halloween the cut bad cut blood dripping into the eyes yeah but it’s not to turn him from pressuring forward right the one thing you’ll never question is the toughness of Maxwell landed a knee and then a right-handed Holloway [Applause] can’t wait on volkanovsky I mean he’s got to empty the gas tank and put everything he has towards the champion just like his Corner told him they said we cannot wait and let him go first they understand that when you attack there’s risk in that but it’s better than sitting and waiting because the kid’s so fast and he I mean he is so accurate the guy’s landing at an absurd rate tonight well he just keeps getting better that’s the bottom line with bokonovski since he’s won the title and all the challenges he’s faced the Korean zombie the way he did Brian Ortega I mean his performances have been just outstanding and tonight he’s on another level and you see his vision Daniel his timing his anticipation almost like an NFL quarterback the game slows down there’s a couple of good kicks by Max yeah and Mac like I said max is landing in there but it’s just the ability of vulcanovsky too get 2-3 off before Max gets his shots going like that and then he gets back to his space that was nice left hook there by Holloway body kick for Halloween’s a lot more of that yep more kicks I mean you gotta think he’s down three rounds we’re here at the halfway point in the championship rounds of the fourth and Holly’s got to do something really big yeah he’s gotta he’s got to go to work really try to press try to find an opportunity to latch on to a submission try to land something that hurts volkonowsky because right now Alexander volcanovsky is fighting beautiful and also really pulling away from Max that was beautiful timing right there but look at the Champions defense and the physical strength yeah is such a tank at 145. sometimes we like to tell the viewership that Alexander volkanovsky when he played rugby league was 214 pounds for the gorilla gorillas that’s a good combination there by Holloway very nice with the high kick at the end just didn’t have a lot on it and there’s a nice right hand by the champion Max is having a hard time with that right eye now it looks like it looks like it’s busted up as well good spinning attack to the body for Holloway I can hear the corner of Holloway I’m watching them they’re telling them don’t wait just go throw some knees oh man but that’s the problem in going first right right volkanovsky’s so accurate he’s just a step ahead and quite a bit faster at this point I mean it’s the question like did he get faster did Max get slower or is his timing just impeccable or is it all the above yeah [Music] it’s it’s to watch the fight and we watch Max Halloween fight right now he’s not fighting a bad fight Alexander volkanovsky is just fighting at a different level and Max Holloway’s in here in the fourth round if any other featherweights in here right now the fight’s done but I think that speaks to the grit of Max Halloween and determination in less about a deterioration of skills and I think Alexander volcanovski like you said has gotten faster better more accurate uh as he has uh spent time at the top but you don’t win 22 fights in a row for nothing that was a good right hand by Max yes he’s been very close to Landing a big right hand that potentially could change the collection of the fight [Applause] but volkanovsky told us this week as Max spins again you know he has so much confidence in what he’s seeing 20 minutes down I don’t know what he just said to him there one more round all right so it all comes down to this our fifth and Final Round we’ll see if Max Holloway can rally in all likelihood he needs a finish to avoid going oh and three against the champion Alexander volkanovsky and now the onus is on Max Holloway to get off first inside leg kick for bulkanovsky you heard his Corner telling the max we got to go for the Finish you know and they said don’t be Reckless but we gotta go try to chase something here they said expect them to coach but it does not look like level changer about Halloween that’s something different [Applause] volkanovsky has not attempted a takedown tonight he’s been in a clinch a few times but never attempting to get the fight to the ground now he finds himself chest to chest Hollow he’s done a good job defending in his position though that is a quick minute off the clock though to begin round five foreign it’s when you’re at a champion you want to keep your belt you want to get better but how does he avoid just any lacks at all yeah right it seems like every day he’s focused on skill Improvement cardio better everything even Eugene Berman I’m watching him he’s like he’s like yeah right this guy looks tremendous the top eight pound-for-pound fighters on the UFC rankings are in the building tonight most people believe Kamara Usman is that guy but man if Alexander volkanovsky has not continued to close that Gap with this type of performance still three minutes to go but he certainly has and he’s certainly moving into that second position if he’s not already there but this performance tonight is extraordinary it’s about I mean it’s the best we’ve ever seen him look and if we didn’t know how good Max Holloway is yeah maybe it would be deceiving yes absolutely look at that Jab and honestly you know you only can have this type of night when you have somebody that’s willing to get in there and fight and that’s what Halloween is done he has never been deterred in what he was trying to accomplish out here just he was in there with a better man tonight volkanovsky is has never looked better [Applause] [Applause] is a small cut around his left eyebrow but other than that he’s really unmarked a little souvenir just over two minutes to decide the UFC featherweight championship and this has really been a virtuoso performance yeah for all the Great Performances he’s had Joe at the end of it all they’ll always point back to July 2nd 2022 as a date that he truly etched himself in in the record books because he will go up 3-0 if Max Holloway does not finish him here and he will have done it in a way that there will be no more questions yes that’s that’s probably the most important thing this is not a close fight and certainly we would not put it past Max Holloway to build himself back up and get back here but volkanovsky very much looking like it’s going to be three nil over one of the other all-time greats in this division and he lands another right hand oh my goodness and now he’s pouring it on he’s not mitigating risk I mean we’ve never seen Holloway this busted up before no I mean his face is a mess he’s gotten better as the rounds have gone on too incredible round one if you want to be generous it was as close to winning around as Max Howell we had in this entire fight and I don’t think you can give him round one but that was as close as he got to winning a round against this guy tonight and I don’t think you could give him Ronald I mean just the way he stepped to the side and chopped out that leg everything he’s doing is beautiful look at that right hand and then hands up defensively on the way out left hand extended he’s just doing everything perfect following the game plan to a team look at that double jab blocks the high kick sees everything and honestly Joe different techniques Max Holloway has different approach Maxwell Holloway has he’s not fighting a bad version of Max Holloway fighting a prepared version of Max Holloway because in order to get to where he is right now after taking this beating he has to be in shape has to be ready so for Alexander to do this and Pitch this shot out against this version tremendous well Max Holloway was game as hell but the champion Alexander volkanovsky with a signature performance tonight what now he says to the broadcast Booth nothing that’s a good question we ain’t got nothing for like what’s what’s on the lot online if you could do that to Max Halloween right who’s next who is next well we will talk about that later and he has talked a lot about that during this fight week you see volkanovski with the jab here that’s the right hand that cut Max Holloway in round number two some elbows and close from Alexander the Great another right hand by vulcanovsky over the course of 25 minutes beautiful jab by Volk and then defensive responsibility he lands he get backs to space where he’s safe the one two Holloway had some trouble with the eyes both sides are battered and bruised hey he showed tremendous toughness but this night belonged to Alexander volkanovski he looked as good as he’s ever been with the decision here’s buff ladies and gentlemen after five rounds we go to the judges score cars for a decision all three judges score this contest 50 45 for the winner by you deliberate decision and [Music] still still the uh disputed UFC featherweight champion of the world Alexander the Great falcon okay [Music] [Applause]