The main event at UFC 218 saw José Aldo vs. Max Holloway battle it out for the featherweight title in front of a packed Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
For whatever excuses Jose Aldo had in losing his featherweight title in June, Max Holloway made sure to remove any doubt in their rematch on Saturday at UFC 218.
Holloway was more than happy to accept a rematch with the former champ Aldo and believed that back-to-back victories over one of the top featherweights in the history of MMA would prove that he was ‘the best’:
“He’s been one of the best guys for years, so to show I’m the best in back-to-back fights, sign me up.”
Holloway, 25, was too young, too strong and too hungry. And the UFC’s rising young star made an emphatic first defense of his 145-pound title by securing a second straight third-round TKO victory over Aldo, who had ruled the division for nearly a decade.
Aldo, 31, was also fully healthy and refocused this time around. He was also effective, fighting at worst even with Holloway through two rounds. But Aldo, who needed two attempts to make weight on Friday, used up too much energy to get there.
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Once Holloway able to lure Aldo into a war in Round 3, the fading champion was easy pickings. Holloway said:
“I knew he was tired already, my trainer said, ‘Let’s take him into deep waters. I know he can’t swim there and we are going to drown him.’ That’s exactly what I did.”
Max Holloway sleeps Jose Aldo for the 2nd time in the main event of UFC 218, as he poured on a barrage of strikes at 4:50 into the 3rd round.
The 1st time these 2 fighters locked horns, it was Holloway who walked away with the crown, after defeating Aldo with strikes in the 3rd round at UFC 212, and history has repeated itself.
👏 👏 👏
A stellar start to our main event. #UFC218 pic.twitter.com/sh7TptwNSW
— UFC (@ufc) December 3, 2017
Corner Cam 🎥 🔊#UFC218 pic.twitter.com/F96bgXUffg
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) December 3, 2017
The champ picking up the pace!#UFC218 pic.twitter.com/5gLzanlXY8
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) December 3, 2017
The champ up-ing the volume!#UFC218 pic.twitter.com/O6fN5fiqEm
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) December 3, 2017
Wow, Max Holloway jump of the fence to celebrate:
IT IS WHAT IT IS!#UFC218 @BlessedMMA pic.twitter.com/usqC0N6nX9
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) December 3, 2017
Holloway’s 116 strikes landed, 114 of them were considered significant.
“At the end of the day, it is what it is,” Holloway said. “All due respect; Aldo is a hell of a champion but I told you that the ‘Blessed Era’ is something new.
“I was watching Lomachenko a lot and I put my hands in front of [Aldo]. I was trying to Lomachenko a lot but I wasn’t moving and I passed the test.”
Holloway was humble in victory, shooting down UFC announcer Joe Rogan’s assertion that he had already become “the greatest featherweight of all-time” after two victories over Aldo.
“I’ve got a lot of catching up to do,” Holloway said. “You have to respect the man who has all the numbers.”
Aldo, took the fight on three week’s notice after Frankie Edgar pulled out with an injury, suffered his third loss in four fights.
“I told you guys, all these guys is cupcakes,” Holloway said. “I look forward to the new flavor but any of them can get it. I like cupcakes. I’m going to eat them all baby.”
Holloway stacked his winning streak to 12 in a row now with consecutive KO/TKO finishes against Jose Aldo. Aldo who has now suffered 3 brutal losses in his last four bouts which arise a question of whether he should hang up the gloves for good.
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