‘Terrifying’ KO sets up title shot; Aussie Volk UP NOW in epic trilogy fight: UFC 276 LIVE
Volk #Volk
The biggest day of the MMA calendar is finally here, with two championship belts on the line at UFC 276 in Las Vegas.
In the main event, middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will look to make his fifth title defence when he takes on Jared Cannonier.
It comes after Australian Alexander Volkanovski defended his featherweight belt once again in his third meeting with fierce rival and crowd favourite Max Holloway.
Volkanovski stunned legendary commenator Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier in a dominant performance that left Holloway badly bloodied. The Australian won by unanimous decision, with all three judges awarding it 50-45.
The victory, Volkanovski’s 22nd straight MMA win, will finally put to rest any doubts about whether the Australian is the greater fighter after a controversial split decision win in their second meeting.
“It seems like Volkanovski is faster than ever, and it seems like Max is a step behind. Even a step behind his previous performance,’ Rogan said.
Daniel Cormier added: “Volkanovski is so on a different level tonight.
“… This will be the day that he truly etched himself in the record books,” Cormier said.
“He will have done it in a way that there will be no more questions.”
Watch UFC 276: Adesanya vs Cannonier + Volkanovski vs Holloway LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday 3rd July from 12pm AEST. ORDER NOW >
START TIME: What time is Israel Adesanya vs Jared Cannonier?
Lawler knocked out ON HIS FEET! | 01:40
ROUND BY ROUND
ROUND 1
The first round was relatively uneventful in the opening minutes, which is to be expected from two fighters who have been in the game as long as Volkanovski and Holloway.
They know how to pick their moment and for Holloway, he used his front kick to the body early while Volkanovski used his quick feet to close the distance.
“I’m too fast for him”, Volkanovski said at one point, taunting Holloway early.
The Australian was the faster of the two in the opening round, more effective in his shots, almost toying with Holloway as if to let him know he has much more left in him, although the American had a few moments of his own at the end. All in all though it was Volkanovski loading up with the right hand to take the opening round.
ROUND 2
Volkanovski then opened the second with a strong left hook and right hand before both fighters clinched, with the Australian pushing Holloway up towards the cage.
Holloway responded with a few body shots before Volkanovski elbowed back, later meeting the challenger with a right counter as the American was badly cut open.
“Oh, that’s bad,” a relaxed and in-control Volkanovski said, still using his speed to take the second round.
ROUND 3
Heading into the third Holloway needed to increase the volume but that was easier said than done against Volkanovski, who was faultless and not giving the challenger any room to move.
The pair traded body kicks early, with Volkanovski then landing a big right hand and following it up with a left soon after.
Not even the pro-Holloway crowd could do anything to stop Volkanovski, with a “Let’s go Alex” chant at one point breaking out as Volkanovski made the former champion look a shadow of the fighter that dominated Calvin Kattar.
All the credit continued to go to Volkanovski, whose elite defence just made it near impossible for Holloway to close in and land anything significant.
ROUND 4
With Volkanovski comfortably taking the first three rounds, Holloway needed a finish to be any chance of reclaiming his belt.
But as Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier said in commentary, it was not as if Holloway was quite prepared to commit to go for it, “touching” Volkanovski more than throwing anything of note.
Volkanovski continued to use his jab effectively to disrupt Holloway’s rhythm, again proving himself one of if not the most well-rounded fighter the division has ever seen.
UFC vet refuses to fall in bloodbath | 00:47
PEREIRA SILENCES CHATTY RIVAL WITH ‘TERRIFYING’ KO
Sean Strickland had done plenty of talking during the week, claiming that Alex Pereira is “not even a good striker” and that his style “sucks”.
Well, Pereira let his striking do the talking in the octagon, flooring Strickland with a thunderous knockout in the opening round of their fight.
It was a left hook from Pereira that sent the American collapsing to the canvas to catapult himself right into title contention.
The former GLORY Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion claimed a knockout win over Adesanya when the two fought in a kickboxing match back in 2017.
Now fighting in the UFC, the pair look destined to meet again, provided Adesanya can get past Cannonier in the main event.
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EARLIER:
BARBERENA’S $100K CALL OUT AFTER BRUTAL TKO WIN
The crowd at T-Mobile Arena may have been underwhelmed by the finish to the Sean O’Malley and Pedro Munhoz fight but Bryan Barberena and Robbie Lawler certainly delivered.
Lawler was in control of what was a brutal slugfest early, testing Barberena’s motor and endurance.
But the 32-year-old exploded in the second round with a flurry of punches to score a second-round TKO win over the former UFC welterweight champion.
Joe Rogan called it the “signature” win of Barberena’s career, telling him post-fight: “You are a savage, that was a wild fight”.
“It’s everything I dreamed of and more,” Barberena replied.
“He had good pressure, good timing. He’s an absolute legend to be out here and fight him.”
Barberena also called for a $100,000 bonus after the finish and who could blame him, it was that impressive.
CROWD BOOS AFTER EYE POKE ENDS FIGHT
There was controversy when Sean O’Malley and Pedro Munhoz’s fight ended a no contest.
This was O’Malley’s biggest test yet.
The No. 13 ranked contender had rapidly risen up the ranks of the bantamweight division to stake his claim for a title shot.
But there were doubters, critics who argued that O’Malley was yet to face a legitimate contender or truly prove that he had what it takes to be a genuine threat.
O’Malley was ready to make a statement against No. 10 ranked contender Munhoz.
Instead, he was forced to settle for a no decision after an accidental eye poke on Munhoz saw the fight stopped.
The crowd loudly booed, although Australian fighter Casey O’Neill tweeted in response: “I urge every fan who boos an eye poke to take an eye poke, then continue fighting another killer…”
Speaking backstage, O’Malley was surprised two judges gave the first round to Munhoz.
“100 per cent [he was looking for a way out]… I was dominating that fight,” he said.
POIRIER, CHANDLER IN OCTAGON-SIDE ALTERCATION
There was plenty of action outside the octagon too, with Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler involved in a tense exchange cageside.
UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns tweeted a video on Saturday night showing the pair involved in an argument, with Poirier overhead saying: “I’m going to f*** you up” while calling Chandler “a fake”.
It is unclear what sparked the altercation, although Chandler did tweet last year that he would “never quit” like Poirier did after he was submitted by Charles Oliveira.
UFC PAYS TRIBUTE AFTER DOUBLE RETIREMENT
Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone had the magic number ‘50’ in mind before he decided to hang up the gloves.
The 39-year-old UFC legend it that number on Saturday.
While it did not end in victory, going down via submission to Jim Miller, Cerrone had the whole crowd at T-Mobile Arena on its feet when he went to place his cowboy hat and gloves on the floor of the octagon.
Cowboy calls an end to legendary career | 01:31
A classy Miller, knowing what was coming, had passed up the opportunity to speak immediately after his win, instead telling Rogan to pass the microphone to Cerrone.
“I don’t love it anymore Joe,” Cerrone said to Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview.
“It’s hard for me to get up. It’s time to go be a movie star, baby.”
Cerrone added that “hopefully one day I’ll be in the Hall of Fame”, to which Rogan simply responded: “100% you’ll be in the Hall of Fame”, speaking for the entire UFC world.
“Donald is a legend, he’s a guy I look up to, that I’m a fan of. We’re going to miss him,” Miller added, paying tribute to his opponent.
Miller was not the only UFC legend to call it a day though.
Earlier, No. 12 ranked women’s flyweight contender Jessica Eye announced her retirement from the UFC after a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Maycee Barber.
It was a dominant victory for Barber, who is now on a three-fight win streak and has plenty to look forward to in her career.
For the veteran Eye though, it was clear post-fight that this was not a snap decision on her part but something she had put a lot of thought into as she placed her gloves on the floor.
“I think it’s time,” she said.
“I’ve been a pro since 2009. I’ve had plenty of UFC fights. I’ve spent my entire 20s and 30s doing this. I’d like to see what the rest of the world looks like.”
‘TOUGHEST MOTHERF-ER’: UFC WORLD STUNNED BY BLOODIED TAVARES
Brad Tavares started his fight against Dricus Du Plessis with bleached blonde hair.
By the end of three round it was red, covered in blood after the American sustained a brutal beating.
Tavares may have been on the wrong end of a unanimous decision result (29-28 x3) but he lost no admirers after lasting the distance against a relentless Du Plessis.
“You have the toughest mother f-er in the world right here in your town,” Du Plessis said post-fight.
You can read more about that fight here.
Brad Tavares is a beast. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
UNDEFEATED RISING STAR PUTS GREEN IN HIS PLACE
Gabe Green admitted earlier in the week that he did not even know who Ian Garry was when a fight with the undefeated rising star was first floated.
“His opponents weren’t super good, in my opinion, so it’s going to be interesting to see how he deals with me, who I think is a step up in competition compared to who he’s fought so far,” Green told reporters at the UFC’s media day.
Well, it is safe to say Green knows who Garry is now and as for how the 24-year-old handled the step up in the competition, the unanimous decision result (30-27 x 3) says it all.
Green definitely represented a step up in class for the Irishman and he rose to the occasion, calculated and patient with his approach in the opening round.
Ian Garry got the job done. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Garry only got better as the first round went on, putting up beautiful combinations late after finding his range earlier on.
Green came on strong in the second and had Garry buckled up at the fence later in the round but again, the Irishman was able to do enough to take the round.
It left Green needing something bigger and more impactful in the third to really turn the momentum.
Instead, it was Garry who dropped Green with an overhand right to open the round and once again assert his dominance.
Green continued to swing for the fences but could not find the decisive blow to turn the fight in his favour.
AUSSIE JESSICA-ROSE CLARK SUFFERS GRUESOME INJURY IN DEFEAT
It took just under four minutes for Australian Jess-Rose Clark to have a two-fight win streak snapped the last time she was in the octagon.
This time, she tasted defeat after just 43 seconds, left with what appeared to be a dislocated elbow after a brutal statement from Julija Stoliarenko.
The armbar specialist had only landed one of nine takedown attempts in her career prior to Saturday’s fight but nailed one immediately against Clark to gain early momentum.
Stoliarenko then slapped on an armbar and Clark was in all worlds of trouble, tapping out shortly after.
“She dislocated it, you can see it,” UFC Hall of Fame inductee Daniel Cormier said in commentary.
“It’s dislocated bad. That was nasty. Jessica is tapping desperately.”
“Perfect timing and execution,” Joe Rogan added.
“The way she passed the guard, the way she got to that position. Watch this level change and look at the beautiful use of the hips and amazing flexibility in her core to get over there, passes that arm and gets that far-side armbar.”
Julija Stoliarenko celebrates after defeating Jessica-Rose Clark. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
UFC 276 RESULTS
MAIN CARD
Middleweight Title Bout: Israel Adesanya vs Jared Cannonier
Featherweight Title Bout: Alexander Volkanovski vs Max Holloway
Middleweight Bout: Alex Pereira def. Sean Strickland by first-round KO
Welterweight Bout: Bryan Barberena def. Robbie Lawler by second-round TKO
Bantamweight Bout: Pedro Munhoz vs Sean O’Malley — no contest (accidentally eye poke)
PRELIMS
Lightweight Bout: Jalin Turner def. Brad Riddell by submission (guillotine)
Welterweight Bout: Jim Miller def. Donald Cerrone by submission (guillotine)
Welterweight Bout: Ian Garry def. Gabe Green by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Middleweight Bout: Dricus Du Plessis def. Brad Tavares by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
EARLY PRELIMS
Middleweight Bout: Andre Muniz def. Uriah Hall by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Women’s Flyweight Bout: Maycee Barber def. Jessica Eye by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Julija Stoliarenko def. Jessica-Rose Clark by submission (armbar)
FULL PREVIEW:
The biggest day of the year is finally here, with two championship belts on the line at UFC 276 and they are only the headline fights in a stacked schedule.
In the main event, middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will look to make his fifth title defence when he takes on Jared Cannonier.
The American is a clear outsider for the fight, although he is not paying any attention to any of the outside noise as he aims to make the most of his first shot at the UFC title.
Rapper Drake added to that outside noise by announcing that he had put a $1 million bet on Adesanya to win.
FEATURE: Volk put everything on the line… it may finally end fierce UFC debate
ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of UFC 276
“King Kong ain’t got s*** on me” | 00:52
“I don’t really think about what other people say, so don’t have any thoughts on what he said or what he’s saying,” Cannonier said earlier in the week.
“My thoughts are only on what he’s going to attempt to do Saturday night and what I’m going to do Saturday night. So there’s a lot of people saying a lot of different things. And damn near all of them are counting me out. So why do I even pay attention to what people say?”
As for Adesanya, he wants to go back to finishing with style and will be looking to do just that, predicting his performance will rival that of Anderson Silva against Forrest Griffin.
Cormier shocked at how Volk gets better | 02:37
“They keep talking about power, ‘Power, power, power.’ You ever heard that before when someone fights me? Power this, power that,” Adesanya said.
“It’s the same old song. F***ing get it off repeat, get me a new song. I’m just glad I have new blood to fight in this fight.”
Another big fight on the card sees No. 4 contender Sean Strickland face Alex Pereira, with the result potentially deciding who takes on Adesanya next, should the Kiwi get past Cannonier.
GOAT Khabib predicts Volk victory | 01:42
Elsewhere, Australian Alexander Volkanovski battles fierce rival Max Holloway for the third time in a fight many consider the unofficial main event.
The two have been exchanged in a war of words in recent days, with Holloway vowing to finish the fight within the first three rounds.
“If you watch from the first (fight) to the second fight, (we’re) two different fighters, and on from the second (fight) to this fight it’s going to be different fighters again,” he said.
“But I feel good, I feel great. I feel on. I got to spend 10 rounds with this guy. I’ve been saying it all week, man. You guys will be blessed if we go above three (rounds). I can’t wait.”
Volkanovski and Holloway weigh-in! | 00:45
Volkanovski did not have to take this fight but said it is the perfect opportunity to cement his “legacy” and put an end to the Holloway chapter after controversy surrounded his win in the second fight.
“This is definitely a legacy fight. That’s why we wanted this fight,” the Australian said.
“If I felt like this wouldn’t put me in a better position moving forward, you wouldn’t take it. But it does. You all want to see it, right? Everyone wants to see the trilogy. So that’s a legacy fight.
“People want to see it. I was open to it; I wanted it as well. So if that’s going to move me forward, let’s do it.”