UFC 276: Alexander Volkanovski leaves Max Holloway with a horrific cut and bloodied as he batters ex-champ in trilogy

ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI left Max Holloway a bloody mess as he closed the book on their rivalry in emphatic fashion.

The pair, 33 and 30 respectively, renewed their rivalry on Sunday morning in the co-main event of UFC 276 in Las Vegas.

Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway locked horns in the co-main event of uFC 275Credit: AP

Aussie annihlator Volkanovski put on a clinic agisnt the former championCredit: Getty

Aussie annihilator Volkanovski went into their third showdown hellbent on silencing the detractors who claimed he lost the pair’s rematch on Fight Island in the summer of 2020.

And The Great made it a perfect 3-0 with a career-best performance, which saw him retain his title via unanimous decision.

After the final horn, Volk roared: “What now!”

Holloway took the centre of the octagon and looked to put the champion on his heels straight away.

The pair trade leg kicks before resuming the feint dance.

Volkanovski’s speed and slick striking was too much for the former champ in the first round, with Volk entering and leaving striking range beautifully.

Holloway did, however, have success with a spinning elbow seconds before the end of the round.

Fan favourite Holloway looked to crank up the pressure in the second but found himself a step behind Volkanovski, who repeatedly found a home for his right hand.

And it was a beautiful overhand right than opened a horrific cut above the right eye of Holloway.

Volkanovski’s elusiveness continued to be a problem for Holloway in the third and fourth rounds, in which the champ touched the challenger at will and opened up his cut even more.

A battered and bruised Holloway came out guns blazing in the fifth and final round and tried to bring the fight down to the ground with a takedown.

Volk shrugged off the attempt and reversed the position into a clinch position against the fence.

Try as he might, beloved former champ Holloway couldn’t turn the tide and secure the knockout he needed to reduce the deficit in their series.

After banking his fifth and most impressive title defence, Volkanovski

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