MAX HOLLOWAY IS the new UFC interim featherweight champion — and he doesn’t want to wait for his shot at Jose Aldo.
Holloway racked up his 10th straight win as he stopped Anthony Pettis in the third round of their main event at UFC 206 in Toronto.
And he immediately set his sights on 11 Feb and UFC 208 in Brooklyn as the perfect date for a 145lb unification showdown with Aldo.
After Conor McGregor made history as the first man to simultaneously hold belts at two weights, he was stripped of his undisputed featherweight title and it was handed back to Aldo.
Now the Brazilian will have to come out of his semi-retirement to defend the belt against Holloway, who took his record to 17-3 and became only the sixth fighter in the UFC to record 10 straight wins.
With Pettis failing to make weight, the interim title was only available to Holloway, but he made no mistake with a clinical stoppage late in the third.
“This is just my ticket to Jose Waldo,” an excitable Holloway said as he mocked Aldo.
“#WheresJoseWaldo? Let me know when you guys find him. I’ll be waiting.”
Earlier in the night, Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone made it four wins from four at welterweight with a walk-off KO against Matt Brown.
Cerrone landed a left kick to head in the opening exchanges of the third round, dropping Brown and forcing referee John McCarthy to call a halt.
Cub Swanson showed that he is still a force to be reckoned with at featherweight, beating Do Hoo Choi by unanimous decision in a bout instantly described by some as a Fight of the Year contender.
UFC 206 results
Main card:
- Max Holloway def. Anthony Pettis KO (R3, 4:50)
- Donald Cerrone def. Matt Brown KO (R3, 0:34)
- Cub Swanson def. Doo Ho Choi UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Kelvin Gastelum def. Tim Kennedy TKO (R3, 2:45)
- Emil Meek def. Jordan Mein UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Prelims:
- Misha Cirkunov def. Nikita Krylov SUB (Guillotine) (R1, 4:38)
- Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Drew Dober SUB (RNC) (R2, 2:57)
- Viviane Pereira def. Valerie Letourneau SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Matthew Lopez def. Mitch Gagnon UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
- Lando Vannata def. John Makdessi KO (R1, 1:40)
- Rustam Khabilov def. Jason Saggo UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Dustin Ortiz def. Zach Makovsky SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
– An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Jose Aldo had not fought since December 2015; he fought Frankie Edgar at UFC 200 in July 2016 and won the interim featherweight title.
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Go on the dubs! Take that, "kingdom", or whatever ye call yerselves…
Well done Dublin great game.
Well done to the Tipperary minors and to the Dubs. Football just got interesting again!! :))
The jacks are back, well done Dublin fantastic team effort and thank fully we just edged a close game with Kerry.
Living as I do approx 3 miles from SAMs ancestral home I much prefer for the cup named after him to be temporarily resident in Dublin rather than Kerry. Well done the Dubs.
Well done to Dublin. They best team on the day & great comeback against us. To be the best, you got to beat the best
Bless the Dubs, O Lord we pray, keep them on their winning way. Bless the colours, worn with pride, from Ballybough to Stepaside. Bless the banners and the flags, not to mention all the gags. Bless Gilroy too, the uncrowned king, let his name around Croke Park sing. Bless Bernard Brogan in the square, kicking points from everywhere. Bless Cluxton too, that agile ace, who guards his goal with style and grace. Bless the man with all the go, the dashing, dauntless, Cullen yoo. Bless the fans, that faithful throng, keep their voices loud and strong. Bless next All-Ireland final day, be sure the Dubs will rule OK
Well done, damn ye!
McMenamin made some impact when he came on! Great performance by the Dubs, fully deserved to win! Coppers will be hopping tonight!
Gutted, but fair play to the dubs.They played to their potential, and we didn’t. Agus sin e.
Kerry will win I’d say, Dublin will be fair disappointed to come away with nothing, not even the minor!
What the hell was wrong with Cluxton? running down the tunnel and not joining in the celebrations and generally looking miserable after the match and in the hotel on the Sunday game…whats up there??
As much as I’d love a Dublin win, I think Kerry will be too clinical towards the end. Conditions have opened it up a bit though.
Gee Adrian!
Even from Kathmandu… I reckon you photo caption needs adjustment!
COME ON THE DUBS GREAT WIN