UFC 240: Max Holloway fends off Frankie Edgar
Max Holloway (21-4-0) successfully defended his featherweight crown with a convincing unanimous decision victory over former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar (23-7-1) at UFC 240 in Edmonton Saturday night.
Edgar, 37, tried to push the pace early, trying to pressure Holloway with strikes and his patented takedowns, but other than a late third round double leg, stuffed Edgar’s 14 other attempts, while punishing Edgar with strikes – particularly in the third round – that opened up a cut on the challenger’s nose.
The judges scored it 50-45, 50-45, and 48-47.
💰 50Gs! 💰 (B2YB @P3Protein)
💵 @HandzofSteelMMA pic.twitter.com/xhHCHLZeRa
— UFC (@ufc) July 28, 2019
Hakeem Dawodu and Geoff Neal earned performances of the night, while Alexandre Pantoja and Deiveson Figueiredo earned Fight of the Night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
But Canadian Felicia Spencer may have stolen the show with her gritty performance against Cris Cyborg. Although she lost a unanimous decision to the former featherweight champion, she went the distance taking Cyborg’s best shots and even opened up a cut in the first round. Her performance impressed many fight fans and fighters commenting on social media.
Performance of the night goes to Felicia Spencer’s chin
— chica (@mandanicol3) July 28, 2019
Good god Felicia Spencer can take a shot. Yeesh. #UFC240
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) July 28, 2019
Can’t deny that Felicia’s stock didn’t go up after that fight. She’s a gamer for sure. Congrats to both fighters. #ufc240
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) July 28, 2019
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the card.
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
ERIK KOCH VS. KYLE STEWART
🗣 By UD!
Welcome to the WW division, @NewBreed04! #UFC240 pic.twitter.com/68yHjMGw5D
— UFC (@ufc) July 27, 2019
WINNER: ERIK KOCH VIA UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ERIK KOCH VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Erik Koch did what he had to do. Would have been nice to get the finish though.
GILLIAN ROBERTSON VS. SARAH FROTA
🗣 Savage mode!
🇨🇦 @Savage_UFC is igniting the Canadian crowd in Edmonton! #UFC240 pic.twitter.com/kejlkJI1pb
— UFC (@ufc) July 27, 2019
WINNER: GILLIAN ROBERTSON VIA TKO (ELBOWS) R2 4:13
ANDREWS PREDICTION: GILLIAN ROBERTSON VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Robertson took the starch out of Frota by taking it to the mat. Good work, Gillian.
ESPN 2 PRELIMS
#3 ALEXANDRE PANTOJA VS. #4 DEIVESON FIGUEIREDO
WOAH! 😱
This fight is B-A-N-A-N-A-S! #UFC240 pic.twitter.com/OHaIgtJSW1
— UFC (@ufc) July 28, 2019
WINNER: DEIVESON FIGUEIREDO VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ALEXANDRE PANTOJA VIA UD
Andrews: Great fight. Take a bow, gents.
GAVIN TUCKER VS. SEUNGWOO CHOI
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1155281709396402176?s=20
WINNER: GAVIN TUCKER VIA SUBMISSION (REAR-NAKED CHOKE) R3 3:17
ANDREWS PREDICTION: GAVIN TUCKER VIA TKO
Andrews: He landed the illegal knee which probably spurred Tucker further to get the finish. Good performance from both fighters.
HAKEEM DAWODU VS. YOSHINORI HORIE
Mean. Hakeem. The fighting machine.
How about it, Canada!? 🇨🇦 @MeanHakeemKo #UFC240 pic.twitter.com/0xj7YnbjFr
— UFC (@ufc) July 28, 2019
WINNER: HAKEEM DAWODU VIA TKO (HEAD KICK) R3 4:09
ANDREWS PREDICTION: HAKEEM DAWODU VIA UD
Andrews: Hakeem brings it again. Nicely done. Credit to Horie for a good fight.
#7 ALEXIS DAVIS VS. #15 VIVIANE ARAUJO
2️⃣9️⃣-2️⃣8️⃣ x3️⃣@ViviAraujoMMA #UFC240 pic.twitter.com/cWmUdiQ8VX
— UFC (@ufc) July 28, 2019
WINNER: VIVIANE ARAUJO VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: VIVIANE ARAUJO VIA TKO
Andrews: The toughness of Davis saved her from the TKO finish, but I must admit she did well offensively too. But Araujo outstruck her. That’s a message.
MAIN CARD
MARC-ANDRE BARRIAULT VS. KRZYSZTOF JOTKO
🗣 By split decision… @JotkoMMA! #UFC240 pic.twitter.com/tkeY9FvV0n
— UFC (@ufc) July 28, 2019
WINNER: KRZYSZTOF JOTKO VIA SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KRZYSZTOF JOTKO VIA UD
Andrews: Back and forth action, but Jotko’s octagon experience came through.
OLIVIER AUBIN-MERCIER VS. ARMAN TSARUKYAN
Huge knees 😱
🇨🇦 @OliAubin #UFC240 pic.twitter.com/CdgnRH0yWN
— UFC (@ufc) July 28, 2019
WINNER: ARMAN TSARUKYAN VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ARMAN TSARUKYAN VIA UD
Andrews: A disappointing loss for OAB. He needed this win and now he farther than ever before from cracking the top 5 and a title shot.
GEOFF NEAL VS. NIKO PRICE
We've got ourselves a brawl, ladies and gents! #UFC240 pic.twitter.com/P7EsvJDsgu
— UFC (@ufc) July 28, 2019
WINNER: GEOFF NEAL VIA TKO (PUNCH) R2 2:39
ANDREWS PREDICTION: NIKO PRICE VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Neal switched it up on the fly after getting dropped and to his credit stopped a good fighter in Price. Well done.
CRIS CYBORG VS. FELICIA SPENCER
🇧🇷 Cyborg is wasting no time! #UFC240 pic.twitter.com/6hRPXE1UDW
— UFC (@ufc) July 28, 2019
WINNER: CRIS CYBORG VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: CRIS CYBORG VIA TKO
Andrews: Give Spencer credit for taking the shots and fighting back. But let’s also acknowledge that Cyborg beat her up.
MAIN EVENT
MAX HOLLOWAY VS. #4 FRANKIE EDGAR
Masterful way to end the round 👏 #UFC240 pic.twitter.com/23zh3cyTJU
— UFC (@ufc) July 28, 2019
WINNER: MAX HOLLOWAY VIA UD (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MAX HOLLOWAY VIA SD
Andrews: I thought the fight would be closer, but give credit to Holloway. He is impeccable at 145. Edgar must feel some Jose Aldo deja vu, except that Holloway never gassed like Aldo did.
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