Max Holloway won the UFC Interim Featherweight title after winning via TKO in the third round against Anthony Pettis during the main event of UFC 206 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Even if the outcome of the fight were reversed, Pettis would still have not walked away with the featherweight championship title after he failed to make weight.
The 29-year-old Pettis looked drain during the early moments of the fight and the weight cut definitely had an effect on him. In an interview with Fox Sports, Pettis claims he missed the weight cut because he wanted to prioritize his health first. Holloway, on the other hand, was hell bent on capturing the interim featherweight crown and showcasing his well-rounded arsenal as he landed hard-hitting strikes and set up takedowns to wear out Pettis.
Fortune was not on Pettis' side that night as he appeared to have injured his right hand during the first round and was hesitant in using it in both the second and third rounds. Even without this setback, many believe Pettis would still not have been able to beat Holloway. He has lost much of his edge ever since Rafael dos Anjos beat him for the lightweight title in 2015. He has now lost three of his last four fights this year. After the fight, Pettis announced his plans to return to the lightweight division as he deemed 145 lbs. to be too much for him.
For Holloway, things couldn't have gone any better as he was awarded the Performance of the Night award to go along with his new title. Other winners from the night include Lando Vannata who won via knockout after landing a highlight-worthy spinning wheel kick on John Makdessi. Vannata also walked away with a Fight of the Night bonus.
Cub Swanson and Dooho Choi also put up a memorable bout with Swanson managing to pick up a victory via unanimous decision. Choi's blood soaked face served as legit proof as to why Swanson deserved the win. He was also awarded a Fight of the Night bonus for his efforts.
Meanwhile, Jordan Mein lost his second consecutive fight after losing to Emil Meek via unanimous decision. This was Mein's first fight in more than two years and he no longer seems to have the "fire or edge he once possessed", according to a report from Forbes. Valerie Letourneau also had a disappointing night in her home country as her match with newcomer Viviane Pereira ended in a split decision.
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