Max Holloway was rushed to hospital last night after suffering a gruesome cut as he lost a third UFC featherweight title fight to Alexander Volkanovski.
The former world champion is one of the greatest and most beloved fighters in the sport, but he has come up short on three occasions now against the Australian. And after two razor-close decisions in their initial bouts, including a controversial split in their 2020 rematch, Holloway was finally put to the sword by Volkanovski in Las Vegas.
And during the second round he was brutally cut above the left eye with a right hand; an injury that continued to bother him throughout the fight. He was left covered in blood when the decision was read, and he was ordered to be taken to hospital immediately after the decision was read.
“Max Holloway is an absolute beast," Volkanovski told Joe Rogan in the octagon afterwards. "I just proved to you that I want to be in this octagon as much as possible.
"I want to be busy. I want to move up and go for double champ and I’ll keep two divisions busy. Charles [Oliveira, the top lightweight], whoever gets that belt, no disrespect, I’d love to move up, get that double champ status."
Volkanovski is now eyeing a move to lightweight, where the belt is technically vacant after controversy over Oliveira's recent weight miss. He tipped the scales half-a-pound heavier than allowed for his second title defence against Justin Gaethje, meaning only the challenger could win the belt, which he didn't as the Brazilian submitted him in two rounds.
The pair have been battling since December 2019 when Volkanovski took Holloway's title at the same venue at UFC 245. And after controversy over the decision in their rematch the following year as well as the Hawaiian's unrelenting series of wins over top contenders, they made an unprecedented trilogy despite the 2-0 score.
“It’s been a bit of a journey this rivalry,” Volkanovski explained in the post-fight press conference. “Taking the belt, having the rematch, and all that talk and all that was a bih part of my career.
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"It adds to the story. It was hard. There were a lot of ups and downs in there. There was a bit I had to get through, but it was good to finally put an end to it and silence a lot of people.”
The champion also suffered a gnarly injury, believing he broke his hand during the second round. This may keep him out of an imminent title fight, with Oliveira likely to face Islam Makhachev next for the supposedly vacant lightweight title.
"I want to be active," Volkanovski added. "But if it’s not opponents, it’s maybe injuries that might slow me down a little bit. But other than that, I need to stay active.
"And I want that double champ status. Like I said, I can stay active enough, and I’ve proved that; what is it, three fights in nine months? I just fought three months ago, not many champions are doing that."
