Hawaiian mixed-martial artist Max Holloway has won the UFC interim featherweight belt after overcoming Anthony Pettis by technical knock-out in the third round of their main event fight at UFC 206.
Pettis never recovered after breaking his right hand in the second round of the fight, giving Holloway an advantage that he duly took in the third round.
The victor sent Pettis to the floor twice in the decider, with referee finally deciding to call the fight after Pettis failed to provide any response to Holloway’s fierce attack late in the round.
The victory sets up a potential fight against current featherweight belt holder Jose Aldo, who only received the belt after the UFC took the title away from Conor McGregor after he won the lightweight championship at UFC 205.
Despite fighting today, Pettis never had the opportunity to claim the interim belt as he missed the weight required for the class in the weigh-in.
Holloway said in his post-fight interview that he is up for challenging Aldo for the undisputed crown.
“I want Aldo,” he said.
“Let’s get the real (title). Hashtag where’s Jose Aldo? Hey Dana White, that’s 50 (thousand) right there.”
In the other main card fights, Donald Cerrone KO’d Matt Brown with a ferocious head kick in round three of the welterweight bout, Kelvin Gastledum defeated Tim Kennedy by a third round technical knock-out and Emil Meek and Cub Swanson won their respective fights via unanimous decision.
UFC 207 is the next major event on New Year’s Eve, with former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey returning to the octagon for the first time since her title-losing defeat to Holly Holm in Melbourne last year.
She takes on current champ Amanda Nunes of Brazil to try and reclaim her lost title.