Main card
Catchweight (148 lbs): Max Holloway def. Anthony Pettis via TKO (punches) 4:50, R3 to become the new interim featherweight champion
Welterweight: Donald Cerrone def. Matt Brown via knockout (head kick) 0:44, R3
Featherweight: Cub Swanson def. Dooho Choi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Middleweight: Kelvin Gastelum def. Tim Kennedy via TKO (punches) 2:45, R3
Welterweight: Emil Meek def. Jordan Mein via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Prelims
Light Heavyweight: Misha Cirkunov def. Nikita Krylov via submission (guillotine choke) 4:38, R1
Lightweight: Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Drew Dober via submission (rear-naked choke) 2:57, R2
Catchweight (117.5 lbs): Viviane Pereira def. Valerie Letourneau via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Bantamweight: Matthew Lopez def. Mitch Gagnon via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
Early prelims
Lightweight: Lando Vannata def. John Makdessi via knockout (spinning wheel kick) 1:40, R1
Catchweight (158 lbs): Rustam Khabilov def. Jason Saggo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Flyweight: Dustin Ortiz def. Zach Makovsky via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
#2 Max Holloway and #5 Anthony Pettis are set to do battle to determine which man will face featherweight champion Jose Aldo for the undisputed featherweight title. Join The Roar from 2pm AEDT for live play-by-play action.
Conor McGregor has officially been stripped of his featherweight title, which means that Jose Aldo, who defeated Frankie Edgar for the interim belt at UFC 200, has been promoted to champion status.
However, there will be a new interim title introduced, which gives the bout between Holloway and Pettis much more meaning.
Holloway’s last loss came in 2013 in a decision against Conor McGregor, when he was just 22 years old.
Since then, the Hawaiian has been on a tear in the featherweight division, and currently rides an incredible nine-fight winning streak.
With his last four wins coming over title contenders Ricardo Lamas, Jeremy Stephens, Charles Oliveira and Cub Swanson, Holloway has proved he is worthy of being ranked #2 in the world, and is one win away from finally getting the title shot he has been chasing for so long.
After becoming the lightweight champion, Anthony Pettis has moved down to featherweight to chase a belt at a second weight class.
Pettis had his featherweight debut in August against Charles Oliveira, where Showtime submitted the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt in impressive fashion in the third round.
Pettis owns some of the most famous highlights of all time, however none will be more remembered than his ‘Showtime kick’ against Benson Henderson where he ran off the cage and landed a head-kick to his rival.
A super-fight between Pettis and Aldo has been on the mind of UFC fans for a quite some time, and if Pettis can defeat Holloway, he will finally make that dream a reality.
Prediction
Both men are dynamic strikers, however Pettis seems to have slowed down in recent years, whereas Holloway seems to be getting better with every fight. Moreover, Pettis’ dynamic striking won’t have the same effect against a taller, longer and at the present, hungrier fighter. Expect Holloway to take out the interim-title and challenge Jose Aldo.
Max Holloway to defeat Anthony Pettis via unanimous decision
Join The Roar from 2pm AEDT for live play-by-play action.
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Roar Guru
Thank you to everyone who joined The Roar for this live blog, we look forward to seeing you all again soon!
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Main card Catchweight (148 lbs): Max Holloway def. Anthony Pettis via TKO (punches) 4:50, R3 to become the new interim featherweight champion Welterweight: Donald Cerrone def. Matt Brown via knockout (head kick) 0:44, R3 Featherweight: Cub Swanson def. Dooho Choi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) Middleweight: Kelvin Gastelum def. Tim Kennedy via TKO (punches) 2:45, R3 Welterweight: Emil Meek def. Jordan Mein via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Prelims Light Heavyweight: Misha Cirkunov def. Nikita Krylov via submission (guillotine choke) 4:38, R1 Lightweight: Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Drew Dober via submission (rear-naked choke) 2:57, R2 Catchweight (117.5 lbs): Viviane Pereira def. Valerie Letourneau via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Bantamweight: Matthew Lopez def. Mitch Gagnon via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27) Early prelims Lightweight: Lando Vannata def. John Makdessi via knockout (spinning wheel kick) 1:40, R1 Catchweight (158 lbs): Rustam Khabilov def. Jason Saggo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Flyweight: Dustin Ortiz def. Zach Makovsky via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
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Roar Guru
Here are the full results from this event:
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Max Holloway, who is now on a ten-fight win streak will challenge Jose Aldo for the featherweight title!
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THE OFFICIAL DECISION: Max Holloway def. Anthony Pettis via TKO (punches) 4:50, R3 to become the new interim featherweight champion
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Roar Guru
#2 Max Holloway vs #5 Anthony Pettis – ROUND 3/5 They touch gloves as round three is underway. Pettis is going to be throwing more kicks, as it looks like he broke his hand in that last round. Pettis lands a good high kick. Holloway lands a good shot. They clinch and it looks like Holloway lands a knee to the groin. Pettis recovers and they reset in the middle of the cage. Both men look for head kicks. A good flurry by Holloway. They clinch and Holloway pushes Pettis on the fence, and lands a shot as they break. A good combination lands for Holloway, and Pettis misses with the head kick. A good sweep lands for Holloway, and he lets Pettis get back up to his feet. They clinch again, and this time Pettis pushes Holloway up against the fence. Elbow lands for Holloway. Front kick misses for Pettis. Holloway lands some good body punches, Pettis responds with a good body kick. Pettis lands a good jab, and another one that stuns Holloway. Kick to the body lands for Holloway. Holloway misses the trip, Pettis lands more good jabs. Holloway misses with the overhand but lands to the body, and gets another trip. Holloway follows him down and gets side control, but decides to get back up instead when Pettis moves positions. More shots land for Holloway and Pettis is hurt. Holloway lands more shots on Pettis who covers up, and gets the finish! MAX HOLLOWAY IS THE INTERIM FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION! TEN FIGHT WIN STREAK! AMAZING!
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Roar Guru
#2 Max Holloway vs #5 Anthony Pettis – ROUND 2/5 Second round is underway. They meet in the middle of the cage. Holloway lands a jab and an inside leg kick. One-two misses for Holloway. Holloway tags Pettis and drops him. Holloway lets Pettis back up, and Pettis is starting to move forward with some pressure. They clinch and Holloway breaks. Holloway lands a counter off the kick of Pettis. Pettis is dropped looking for the cartwheel kick. Pettis bounces right back up to his feet. Holloway lands some good body shots and Pettis counters. Pettis is really moving forward. Pettis lands the front kick. A good combination lands for Holloway. They clinch and Holloway lands some good shots to the body as they break. Pettis misses with the head kick, but lands one to the body. Holloway lands a good right hand. Pettis lands a good front kick, and another. They clinch and Holloway lands a knee to the body before Pettis pushes him against the fence. Pettis is really working for the takedown, but Holloway is defending very well. Holloway lands a good knee to the body. Time. Good round for Holloway. My score: 10-9 Holloway Overall score: 19-19 (Draw)
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Roar Guru
#2 Max Holloway vs #5 Anthony Pettis – ROUND 1/5 Round one is underway. Will we have an interim champion, or will Pettis snap the nine-fight win streak. Pettis looks for a switch kick right away. Holloway as the centre of the cage, and is moving around well. Pettis lands a leg kick. Some good kick being thrown by Pettis. Leg kick is checked by Pettis. Switch kick is blocked by Holloway. Holloway lands a body punch. Holloway follows it up with an other right to the body. Spinning back kick lands clean for Pettis. Counter-right lands for Holloway. Side kick lands for Pettis. One-two lands for Holloway, Pettis lands a right on the counter. Pettis has a head kick blocked. Holloway lands a leg kick. Overhand right hands for Holloway after one to the body. Another good shot lands for Holloway. Pettis lands a good kick to the body. Leg kick lands for Holloway. Holloway staggers Pettis with a left hook. Counter left lands for Holloway. Both men land right hands. Holloway lands a good counter right. Pettis looks for the late takedown but its stuffed. Time. Very close round. My score: 10-9 Pettis Overall score: 10-9 Pettis
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It’s a fight round catchweight bout with a title twist. If #2 Max Holloway defeats #5 Anthony Pettis, he will be the interim featherweight champion. If Pettis gets his hand raised, he will not, as he came in at 148 pounds.
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It’s time for the main event!
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THE OFFICIAL DECISION: Donald Cerrone def. Matt Brown via knockout (head kick) 0:44, R3
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#5 Donald Cerrone vs #14 Matt Brown – ROUND 3/3 They come and hug to start the third round. They've earned each others respect. Brown gets the takedown, Cerrone bounces right back up to his feet. Brown tags Cerrone. Cerrone lands a head kick and Brown is out cold! This one is over! Wow!
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#5 Donald Cerrone vs #14 Matt Brown – ROUND 2/3 Round two is underway. Brown is really looking for the teep. Cerrone's takedown attempt is stuffed. Cerrone's kick is checked. Brown lands a knee to the body in the clinch. Right hand lands for Brown. Leg kick lands for Cerrone. A good jab lands for Brown that snaps Cerrone's head back. Brown lands a right hand that drops Cerrone. Brown pushes forward looking for the finish. Cerrone is able to survive and fires back. Cerrone lands some good jabs. Head kick lands for Cerrone that drops Brown. Brown is able to get back up to his feet. Both men land right hands. Cerrone pushes forward with some good shots. Brown lands a head kick, Cerrone just misses with his but lands a jab. Brown lands a right but misses with the left. Cerrone lands another head kick. Right hand lands for Brown. Cerrone misses with the spin. Cerrone lands a jab. Right hand lands for Brown. Cerrone lands a kick to the body. Brown lands a hard shot. Elbow lands for Brown, Cerrone responds with a right hand. Cerrone lands a left, Brown circles away. Time. Another amazing fight. My score: 10-9 Cerrone Overall score: 19-19 (Draw)
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Roar Guru
#5 Donald Cerrone vs #14 Matt Brown – ROUND 1/3 They meet in the middle of the cage. Body kick lands for Cerrone. They both start swinging in the pocket. Cerrone lands a body kick. Head kick lands for Cerrone, and he throws a good combination behind it. Brown pushes forward looking to land some big shots. Cerrone lands two good jabs. Left hook on the counter lands for Brown. Brown lands a good overhand. Brown lands a right and a left hook. Cerrone counters with a left of his own. Brown lands a good kick to the body. Two jabs lands for Cerrone, Brown lands a good body punch. Brown checks a leg kick. Cerrone lands a head kick and Brown is stunned. Brown fires back with some shots of his own. Brown lands a left to the body and a jab. Brown slips off the kick, and Cerrone goes down to get on top of him. Brown locks in the triangle and Cerrone is able to survive. Cerrone is also able to survive the arm-bar attempt and they get back to their feet. Brown lands some more good shots and he has really found his range. Brown lands a right hand that staggers Cerrone to end the round. Great round. My score: 10-9 Brown Overall score: 10-9 Brown
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Roar Guru
Every fight on this main card has been incredible. Let's see if this one can meet expectations. It certainly has all the ingredients to do so.
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Roar Guru
Donald Cerrone has been on a tear since moving to welterweight, riding a three-fight win streak and earning performance of the night honours in all three of those fights. A win over Brown would further cement his place as a title challenger at 170 pounds.
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Matt Brown, once a title challenger at welterweight, as dropped out of the top five of the division with recent poor performances. However, a win over Cerrone could get him back in there. Brown does not like Cerrone one bit, calling him a ‘bully’ and refusing to shake his hand.
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#5 Donald Cerrone and #14 Matt Brown fight in a welterweight bout, and there is no love lost between these two.
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It’s time for the co-main event!
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THE OFFICIAL DECISION: Cub Swanson def. Dooho Choi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)