Volkanovski shuts out Holloway to retain UFC featherweight title

Alexander Volkanovski has Max Holloway's number.

Volkanovski defeated Holloway for a third time via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) in the UFC 276 co-main event Saturday night in Las Vegas to retain the featherweight title.

The champion put on a masterful performance, and it was easily his most dominant win against Holloway. Volkanovski used his speed and accuracy to batter Holloway for five rounds, leaving no doubt that he's the best 145-pound fighter on the planet.

After the fight, Volkanovski said he wants to move up to the lightweight division and go for a second belt. He mentioned former champ Charles Oliveira - who is expected to face a to-be-determined opponent for the vacant title - as a potential matchup candidate.

Volkanovski took the featherweight title from Holloway in December 2019 via a competitive but convincing decision. Then Volkanovski edged Holloway by split decision in a July 2020 rematch that many scored in the Hawaiian fighter's favor.

Holloway, who held UFC gold from 2017-19 and recorded three successful title defenses, earned a third crack at Volkanovski by beating Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez in 2021.

Volkanovski has improved to 12-0 in the UFC and is riding a 22-fight winning streak overall. The Australian fighter now has the second-most title defenses in UFC featherweight history with four, breaking a tie with Holloway.