The second of three title fights for UFC 251 was another highly anticipated rematch between current featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and former champion Max Holloway.
Holloway, who reportedly held training camp via Zoom, looked sharp out of the gate and well on his way to regaining his UFC featherweight belt. An aggressive Holloway mixed up his attacks, stunning the champ with a right-hand late int he round before dropping him temporarily with a head kick in the closing seconds. Volkanovski seemed to employ the same strategy he had in the first fight, whittling away at Holloway's legs to limit his movement and power. Hollway's leg did show redness and signs of swelling but he kept pushing forward and scored a second knockdown in the second round.
With Holloway likely taking the first two rounds, Volkanovski made some much-needed adjustments in the later rounds and it might have helped him retain his title. He picked up the pace, landing some solid shots in the third and scoring a takedown in the fourth.
Without seeing the judges' cards, it was assumed by many that Holloway was up the first three rounds. Perhaps feeling he needed a knockout, Volkanovski turned up the heat even more in the final frame. He scored another takedown in the fifth which may have ultimately tipped the scales in his favor as the striking numbers for the fight were virtually even.
The judges scored it 48-47 twice and 47-48 for Volkanovski who moved to 22-1 and retained his featherweight belt. The lack of a finish or clear cut winner likely means there will be some who felt Holloway won the match. However, the two have now fought for a combined 10 rounds and Volkanovski seems to have the edge, having now met and beaten Holloway twice in the Octagon. The champion didn't rule out a possible trilogy fight but Holloway will likely have to earn another rematch by knocking off a contender or two.