UFC 231's card on paper was a hardcore fight fan's dream come true, and heading up the show was two fighters on an unreal streak of success in Brian Ortega and Max Holloway.
What year layoff?
— UFC (@ufc) December 9, 2018
-- @BlessedMMA is going to work. #UFC231 pic.twitter.com/kWbH7uAphR
Holloway looked to defend his UFC Featherweight title for the first time in a year, and fought someone not named Jose Aldo for the first time in nearly two years. His opponent, the undefeated Ortega, sat in line for most of this year waiting for his shot as Holloway struggled to get healthy. Saturday night in Toronto, it all culminated in a main event battle.
Holloway had things going his way early, landing strikes at range while avoiding Ortega's with regularity. Holloway turned up the heat in round two, connecting over and over again and bloodying Ortega. Holloway would abandon his defense way more in the second round, and was caught with more punches than the first, but his output was still overwhelming.
Ortega met success in the third rounds, but not enough to make the difference, as Holloway just poured it on in the fourth and brutalized Ortega. Before the fifth round, a stop was called to the fight
WON'T. BACK. DOWN. #UFC231 pic.twitter.com/Xm1Q3e28eG
— UFC (@ufc) December 9, 2018
You can see an excerpt of FightfulMMA.com's live coverage below.
Round Four: The round begins with Holloway immediately landing combinations on Ortega, Holloway charges at Ortega while swinging away at him. Ortega then catches Holloway with a right hook to the midsection, Holloway responds by nailing Ortega with a multiple punch combination. Holloway backs Ortega into the cage wall and a massive striking exchange breaks out, Holloway charges at Ortega while landing a multiple strike combination. Ortega grabs Holloway and he gets him against the cage wall, the fighters separate and Holloway swings away at Ortega. Holloway drags Ortega to the ground and he allows him to stand back up, Ortega eats more strikes as he gets Holloway against the cage wall. The fighters separate and Holloway scores a takedown before letting Ortega stand back up, Holloway lands another combination as the round ends.
Fightful scores the round 10-9 for Holloway (Overall Score: 39-37 for Holloway)
In between rounds, the doctor says Brian Ortega cannot continue and the fight is waved off.
Official Result: Max Holloway def. #1 Brian Ortega by TKO via doctor stoppage (5:00, R4) to retain the UFC Featherweight Title
After the fight, Holloway calls for a UFC card in Hawaii, and a shot at lightweight to be the pound-for-pound best. He still wants to defend his Featherweight title.
The best is @BlessedMMA! -- #UFC231 pic.twitter.com/AVS67ZLrA8
— UFC (@ufc) December 9, 2018
Fightful has full, live coverage of UFC 231 at this link, as well as a live post-show podcast covering the event. We'll also cover the happenings on our MMA & Boxing Youtube channel Tuesday at 2 PM EST for the FightfulMMA.com Podcast with Sean Ross Sapp and MMA insiders James Lynch and "Showdown" Joe Ferraro.
