Honorary Canadian Max Holloway won his 14th straight featherweight fight at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Saturday night, as he outpointed Frankie Edgar over five rounds to retain his 145-pound crown in the main event of UFC 240.
Scores were 50-45 twice and 48-47 for Holloway, who returned to 145 pounds after losing an interim UFC lightweight title fight to Dustin Poirier in April.
The first five minutes were largely tactical, Edgar scoring with a few right hands and some leg kicks, while Holloway’s weapon of choice was an uppercut that landed on a number of occasions.
Holloway’s takedown defense continued to be strong in round two, as he turned away Edgar’s second attempt to take the fight to the mat, and the champion appeared to be digging in with his shots a little more, particularly to the body. Edgar kept pressing, but he was beginning to have trouble getting past Holloway’s jab, and just before the horn, the Hawaiian sent Edgar into the fence with a body kick.
In the third, Edgar picked up his lunch pail and went to work, staying busy throughout. Holloway did appear to stun Edgar with a little over a minute left, but moments later, “The Answer” scored his first takedown, allowing him to finish the round on a positive note.
Edgar had success with his busy striking attack in round four, but Holloway was still landing the more telling blows, and when he upped his work rate late in the frame, the power difference was clear and it showed on the New Jersey native’s bloodied face.
Holloway’s jab and takedown defense continued to dictate the action in the final round, with Edgar pressing but unable to do significant damage to the champion. As the bout entered its closing moments, Edgar never stopped trying to make something happen, but it was not to be, as Holloway made it 4-0 in Canada.
With the win, Waianae’s Holloway moves to 21-4. Toms River’s Edgar falls to 22-7-1.
