Holloway beats Edgar, defends featherweight title
EDMONTON, Alberta — Max Holloway has made a profitable return to his featherweight throne.
After an interim title combat loss at light-weight in April, Holloway got here again house to featherweight, beating Frankie Edgar to retain his UFC title Saturday night time in the principle occasion of UFC 240 at Rogers Place. The victory got here by way of complete unanimous resolution (50-45, 49-46, 48-47) towards a recreation Edgar, the previous light-weight champion. It was Holloway’s third profitable 145-pound title protection.
“All people stated I wasn’t capable of wrestle with this man,” Holloway stated. “I needed to show some extent and go 5 rounds with him, so I might let the world know I am right here to remain. The ‘Blessed’ specific remains to be on the transfer.”
The primary spherical was very shut, with Edgar having a few of his finest moments, touchdown a pleasant proper hand. However because it obtained later, Holloway obtained higher, as he has been recognized to do. The champion bloodied the challenger with a proper hand within the second and completed the body with a spinning again kick to the physique.
Holloway practically completed Edgar within the third spherical, knocking out his mouthpiece with a pair of uppercuts. Holloway moved ahead and landed a mixture towards the cage, however Edgar scored a late takedown that allowed him to outlive.
Issues did not get a lot better for Edgar within the fourth and fifth rounds, although. Holloway’s vary and exact putting was an excessive amount of. Holloway busted Edgar’s nostril with a jab within the fourth and completed that spherical robust with a mixture and spinning again kick. Edgar got here again with a stable fifth spherical, however once more Holloway saved him on the tip of his jab and landed laborious proper fingers.
Edgar tried to get away from Holloway’s putting by way of his vaunted wrestling, notably late within the combat, however failed on 13 of 14 takedown makes an attempt. Holloway, ranked No. 6 in ESPN’s pound-for-pound MMA rankings, prolonged his report of fights with greater than 100 vital strikes landed to 9.
“Frankie is a real warrior,” Holloway stated. “He is the man who impressed me to be right here. You are the person, Frank.”
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Max Holloway weighs in on the opportunity of combating Alexander Volkanovski subsequent after defeating Frankie Edgar.
Holloway (21-Four) went as much as combat Dustin Poirier for the interim light-weight title at UFC 236 three months in the past and misplaced by unanimous resolution. The Hawai’ian striker took some harm in that combat, however got here again no worse for put on. Holloway, 27, has received 13 straight at featherweight and owns a UFC-record 16 wins at 145 kilos. This was Holloway’s first resolution victory since he beat Ricardo Lamas at UFC 199 in June 2016.
Edgar (22-7-1), a future UFC Corridor of Famer, was competing in his ninth profession UFC title bout. The New Jersey native is now the primary fighter to spend greater than seven complete hours within the Octagon throughout his UFC profession. Edgar, 37, is Zero-Three in featherweight title fights, with the earlier two losses coming towards Jose Aldo. He had not fought since an April 2018 win over Cub Swanson, the longest layoff of his 14-year profession.