UFC 276 results: Alexander Volkanovski beats Max Holloway, dad Tode almost gets in fight
Tode Volkanovski had never seen his son fight overseas until UFC 276, and it will be an event to remember after almost getting in a scrap himself.
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Tony Volkanovski was arriving for the UFC weigh-ins last Friday, alone, and minding his own business, when two twentysomethings decided to get up in his face.
Specifically, to make reference at the fighter on his t-shirt.
“Yeah, had one of Alex’s shirts on,” says the Wollongong road gang worker.
A job he took, incidentally, so as to “take it a little easier” after years of concreting.
None of which these toughs knew.
Instead, they saw only some old bloke in a shirt supporting Volkanovski.
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That Aussie UFC champ who, all week here in Las Vegas, everyone had been saying would be schooled, stripped and worse by Hawaiian legend Max Holloway.
“So I actually found myself in some trouble,” Volkanovski snr laughs when we finally chat a night later inside the same T Mobile Arena.
With his boy, gold belt slung over one shoulder, and broken left hand already taped, moving slowly through TV interviewers from England, Brazil, even Mexico.
Speaking with The Daily Telegraph around midnight, the champ revealed he not only wants to headline in Australia next, but will push UFC boss Dana White for a lightweight title shot against Charles Oliveira.
“My hand will be ready,” he said, referencing a proposed UFC return Down Under in February. “So going for a second belt, against Charles … it makes sense.”
Doesn’t it what?
But, anyway, back to dad’s yarn.
“These two blokes approached me saying ‘ah, Alexander Volkanovski, he’s a shrimp, too small, can’t win’,” continues the old man, whose real name is Tode.
“I just looked at them. Said: ‘Boys, in case you don’t know, the score is two-nil’.
“And that was it. They wanted to fight me.”
Which, you should know, suited the old Wollongong concreter just fine.
“Oh, I was ready to go,” he cackles. “But when I walked forward they started going backwards.”
All of which suggests it’s flat country down there in the ‘Gong.
Apples not falling far and all that.
“Couldn’t be prouder, either,” dad says.
Which is why on a night when Volkanovski entered UFC 276 to a packed crowd of 20,000, all of whom appeared to be booing, the real story was the two who weren’t – Tony and the fighter’s wife, Emma.
In a baying mob including the likes of Hollywood superstar Chris Pratt, WWE boss Vince McMahon and a large chunk of the UFC roster, here were the two who believed most.
Not only on this night, either. But hundreds more before.
“And Emma, she’s the one,” says Tony, who had never seen his boy fought overseas, or as champion. “The way she’s supported Alex — incredible.”
So as for how they felt then when the boos rained down?
“We tried screaming ourselves,” Tony grinned. “But, no, as a father it isn’t good.
“My son, he’s a good kid. Down to earth. Works hard.”
And for proof of the latter, look at the face of Holloway.
Yet even as his boy increasingly did the unthinkable, piecing apart the Hawaiian great, the old man couldn’t relax even a little.
“Stayed nervous right up to the last second,” he says.
“It’s why while Alex has asked me to come over before, I didn’t want to spoil things. Thought I‘d get too nervous.”
Yet now with the fight done, Team Volkanovski will spend a few days in Las Vegas before finally making the flight home.
Which for Tony, brings a whole new range of worry.
“Because on the aeroplane over, I was really wanting a cigarette,” he grins. “So, you know, I got a couple of drinks into me. But, yeah … it doesn’t help.”
GOAT DEBATE OVER: AUSSIE UFC STAR’S VIOLENT DOMINATION
You want to know how great Alexander Volkanovski is?
OK, look at the face of Max Holloway.
A melon which, with all respect to the Hawaiian legend, was not simply busted up, or pieced apart like a fleshy jigsaw, but for some 20 minutes intermittently squirted blood like a water pistol.
Which matters.
Especially when you know how before walking out for this most hyped of UFC trilogies, it was Holloway considered by many as not simply the greatest featherweight now – but ever.
An undeniable fight favourite who, before meeting Volkanovski for the first time, had a resume exactly as you would expect a star dubbed Blessed, winning 16 straight at featherweight, including 10 via stoppage.
Then, well, that old No.10 for the Warilla Gorillas tore him apart.
And with one hand.
Almost unthinkably given the damage he caused, Volkanovski fought almost four rounds – or 20 minutes – with a broken left hand to defend his featherweight strap at UFC 276 in Las Vegas.
Did plenty more too.
But first, the hand.
“Broke in the second,” Volkanovski told The Daily Telegraph backstage, belt slung over one shoulder and a coffee in his right mitt.
“No idea how I did it. But I knew.
“I told the corner and they just said ‘hey, I don’t wanna hear you say that again’ ... so I said, ‘ah, OK, sorry’ and went back to work”.
Didn’t he what?
Especially given that, coming into this one, and despite having beaten Holloway twice already, so much of the UFC community – particularly here Stateside – insisted it was the Hawaiian who was the better.
Greatest featherweight ever, they said.
That, and a Future Hall of Famer, too.
Which on the latter, there is no doubt.
But the featherweight GOAT tag?
Nah, that now belongs to Volk.
Just as this 33-year-old Wollongong dad, a fella who not so long ago was concreting and playing bush footy, has punched his way into contention for greatest UFC fighter period.
Like Ularu, this bloke is a national treasure.
A fella who spent all week listening to everyone say that Holloway was better. Then went and pieced him up so bad, all three judges scored read 50-45.
A shut out.
But still, the real proof was the face of Holloway.
Which afterwards, resembled something like a bloodied jigsaw puzzle.
A punishment for this greatest of UFC fighters which was underway by round two, when his face was squirting claret like it were fired from a water pistol.
And it started from the first round, with Volkanovski not only landing the heavier shots, or greater volume, but frequently talking to his rival.
Then second round, it was better again, most notably from a couple of big elbows in consecutive clinches which split Holloway so badly on the left eye that you could see blood shoot in burts.
Although Holloway kept coming into the third, of course.
As you would expect of a guy who came into this one with all of America basically claiming him king.
But not anymore.
With the question not only being if Volk has gone to No.1 in pound-for-pound rankings, but where the 33-year-old sits among Australia’s greatest fighters ever.
Apart from having now not dropped a fight in eight years and 22 fights, the Aussie has defended his gold strap four times.
The win will also see Volkanovski’s management team immediately start campaigning for a major title bout on Australian soil for early 2023.
Better, it could be for the UFC lightweight title, with the champ saying inside the Octagon exactly what he had told The Daily Telegraph in Las Vegas on Monday – that he doesn’t simply want to claim a second title, but defend both.
🗣 "DON'T EVER BACK DOWN!"
— UFC (@ufc) July 3, 2022
[ @AlexVolkanovski | #UFC276 | #UFCFightWeek | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/f2ejdXg5Hv ] pic.twitter.com/k02pB13w4g
UFC 276 FIGHT CARD RESULTS
MAIN CARD
Middleweight Title Bout: Israel Adesanya def Jared Cannonier decision
Featherweight Title Bout: Alexander Volkanovski d Max Holloway Decision (5)
Middleweight Bout: Alex Pereira d Sean Strickland KO (1)
Welterweight Bout: Bryan Barberena d Robbie Lawler TKO (2)
Bantamweight Bout: Sean O’Malley v Pedro Munhoz. No Contest (eye poke).
PRELIMS
Lightweight Bout: Jalin Turner d Brad Riddell. Submission. (1)
Welterweight Bout: Jim Miller d Donald Cerrone. Submission (2)
Welterweight Bout: Ian Garry d Gabriel Green. Decision. (3)
Middleweight Bout: Dricus Du Plessis d Brad Tavares. Decision (3).
EARLY PRELIMS
Middleweight Bout: Andre Muniz d Uriah Hall. Decision (3)
Women’s Flyweight Bout: Maycee Barber d Jessica Eye. Decision (3)
Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Julija Stoliarenko d Jessica-Rose Clarke. Submission (1)
KIWI CHAMP TO FACE HIS BIGGEST DEMON
Israel Adesanya has defended the UFC middleweight title at UFC 276, then called out his next rival - Brazilian Alex Pereira.
While he walked out to The Undertaker soundtrack and carried an urn, the New Zealand never actually ‘buried’ his rival Jared Cannonier – a truth proved by large sections of the Las Vegas crowds booing a lack of offense from the champ over five rounds.
Undeniably though, the New Zealander remains a star.
A truth proved by the way 20,000 fans rose to their feet, mobiles in hand, to record his arrival.
And while the rounds were close, Adesanya did what he always does -- enough -- with the judges eventually scoring it 49-46, 49-46 and 50-45.
Which was wider than the fight actually was, with an argument definitely to be made for Cannonier winning two.
“They had an excellent game plan,” Adesanya said. “It was hard to get my follow ups going.”
The champ then said he was happy to fight Pereira next.
The Brazilian kick boxer has defeated Adesanya twice in their former sport – including once via KO.
THE MAN TO DETHRONE MIDDLEWEIGHT KING?
First, he knocked out Israel Adesanya.
Now, Alex Pereira has done the same to likely earn himself a shot at the UFC middleweight champion.
A Brazilian kick boxer who twice beat Adesanya in that sport, Pereira confirmed himself a genuine contender in the middleweight division after icing Sean Strickland in the first round.
Less than three minutes in, Pereira landed a huge left hand which dropped Strickland and, as he tried to get up, swarmed with two massive rights that finished it.
Strickland, who was ranked No.4 in the division, tried to find his feet after the fight was waved off but staggered sideways.
Should Adesanya win the main event, UFC boss Dana White will most likely look to put the Brazilian into a title fight.
Speaking through a translator, Pereira even urged the crowd to cheer for an Adesanya win.
Of course, the result could mean a longer wait for Australian Robert Whittaker to have his trilogy shot at Adesanya.
Whittaker fights Italian Marvin Vettori in September and has said, with a win, he will be campaigning for a third shot at the man who took his title in 2019, but who he only lost to in a narrow points decision earlier this year.
IS LEGEND’S CAREER OVER AFTER TKO?
American Bryan Barberena has finished UFC legend Robbie Lawler in an outstanding performance that could have been held in a phone booth rather than a sold out T-Mobile Arena.
After dropping the first round, Barberena – a fighter all mowhawk, beard, and heavy hands – came back in the second to stop Lawler with a series of vicious elbows and hands.
With only 13 seconds until the bell, and Lawler against the cage, Barberena finished the former champ, and undeniable crowd favourite who slumped backwards as the referee dived between them to wave the fight off.
In an entertaining first round it was Lawler who got the better of proceedings, landing the heavier shots while Barberena, who attended this week’s press conference in overalls, went for volume.
Afterwards, the victor said: “That’s everything I dreamed of and more.
“He’s an absolute legend.
“And it’s an absolute honour to be in here with him.
“But welterweights, I’m not just a striker … I’m coming.”
CROWD ERUPTS AFTER FIGHT CONTROVERSIALLY CALLED OFF
What’s worse than a kick to the dusters by Sugar Sean O’Malley?
An eye poke, apparently.
Among the most popular fighters on the UFC roster, Sugar had his hyped fight with Pedro Munhoz declared a ‘No Contest’ after the latter was unable to continue in the second round due to an eye poke
Roughly three minutes into round two of the bout, which opened the Pay-Per-View portion of the Las Vegas blockbuster, O’Malley threw a left land that also appeared to see fingers go into the eye of his rival.
Pedro Munhoz vs. Sean O'Malley was ruled a no contest after an unintentional eye poke at #UFC276pic.twitter.com/l6yLpWU9EG
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) July 3, 2022
After the fight was initially paused, a doctor then attended to Munhoz and the fight was called off, causing the sold out Las Vegas crowd to erupt in boos.
Sporting pink cornrows for the fight, O’Malley was also moved to the neutral corner in round one after Munhoz complained of a low blow.
UFC COWBOY HANGS UP THE BOOTS
UFC legend Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone has fought in the Octagon for the last night.
After 11 years fighting in world’s most famous cage, Cowboy placed his gloves of the mat after being submitted by fellow UFC great Jim Miller here in Las Vegas.
Coming into this fight, both men were tied for most wins in UC history, 23.
However Miller now stands alone after submitting Cerrone via guillotine choke in the second round.
In the Octagon afterwards, announcer Joe Rogan went to interview Miller first, before the fighter pointed to Cerrone and said “I think he has something to say”.
It was then Cerrone placed his gloves on the mat, signifying that he was done.
“Thank you, Las Vegas,” he said as the sold out T Mobile Arena crowd rose to its feet in applause.
With his two young sons also in the crowd, Cowboy continued simply: “It’s time to bow out.
“I don’t love it anymore.
“But this is the perfect way to go out.
“So out crowd.
“Talking to you, Joe.
“My boys are here.
“I’m going off to be a movie star”.
The last ride of an iconic career. Thank you @CowboyCerrone ðŸ‘🤠pic.twitter.com/LEF6Lnea6i
— UFC (@ufc) July 3, 2022
The undercard was rounded out with American lightweight Jalin Turner submitting New Zealander Brad Riddell after just 45 seconds. Turner, who finished via guillotine choke, is now on a win streak of five fights, with Riddell joining Australians Josh Culibao and Jamie Mullarkey on the growing victim list of the 27-year-old Californian.
OHHHH MYYYYY @JALINTURNER!!!!!! 😳
— UFC (@ufc) July 3, 2022
[ #UFC276 | Prelims LIVE on @ABCNetwork ] pic.twitter.com/rxt6y7UK4U
STAR LORD MAKES CALL ON VOLK’S GOAT STATUS
Hollywood star Chris Pratt says Alexander Volkanovski is “approaching GOAT status” and has urged the UFC featherweight champ to go win convincingly in his blockbuster trilogy with Max Holloway.
Among a host of big name guests at UFC 276, Pratt addressed a handful of reporters backstage during the undercard and, while not giving a tip for the Volkanovski/Holloway title fight, said he hoped the night would determine a clear winner.
A massive fight fan, Star Lord also suggested Volk was now on the cusp of becoming the featherweight division’s greatest ever – a field that includes the likes of Holloway, Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor.
At the same time in the Octagon, meanwhile, South African middleweight Dricus Du Plessis was urging UFC fans to get used to pronouncing his name after winning a bloody war against American Brad Tavares.
Du Plessis earned a gutsy decision win, in a bout where he left Tavares so bloodied that his peroxided blond hair turned increasingly pink over the course of three rounds.
Afterwards, the South African called out the No.10 ranked Kelvin Gastelum.
Asked about the win over Tavares, he said: “Holy smokes, he took some big ones. I took some big ones too, he can take a punch. That was incredible.”
A fight earlier, Andre Muniz scored a decision win over Uriah Hall.
Pratt’s picks are in ✅
— UFC (@ufc) July 3, 2022
[ @PrattPrattPratt | #UFC276 | LIVE on E+ PPV: https://t.co/f2ejdXxGz3 ] pic.twitter.com/KLbTBonCwI
WATCH: AUSSIE SUFFERS BUSTED ARM IN HORROR UFC 276 OPENER
Australian fighter Jessica-Rose Clarke has suffered what appeared to be a dislocated left elbow — or worse, a broken arm — after being submitted in the first fight of a stacked UFC 276 card here in Las Vegas.
Now living and training in California, the Innisfail product was taken down within a minute of the first round by Julija Stoliarenko and quickly fell victim to the Lithuanian’s signature submission.
Incredibly, JRC had actually started strongly, felling her rival with her first punch — a big right. But Stoliarenko not only recovered quickly, but then secured a stunning first round finish.
Only minutes earlier Clarke walked out to huge cheers and the ‘Sexy Boy’ anthem of wrasslin’ superstar Shawn Michaels.
However, she left T-Mobile Arena clutching at her arm, and likely a long recovery.
GRAPHIC WARNING
SNATCHES THE ARM IN SECONDS! 💪
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) July 2, 2022
🇱🇹 Julija Stoliarenko sinks in a VICIOUS armbar to get the sub in seconds! #UFC276pic.twitter.com/3yc9YlahlS
The quick loss opened a huge card for Australian fight fans, with UFC featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski defending in a hyped trilogy match against Hawaiian Max Holloway.
Then in the main event, New Zealand star Israel Adesanya defends the middleweight title against American Jared Cannonier.
In the second fight of the night, American Maycee Barber scored a convincing decision win over Jessica Eye – who after the fight placed her gloves on the Octagon canvas, signifying her retirement.
“I think it’s time,” Eye said.
Barber, meanwhile, who only recently turned 24 and is dubbed ‘The Future’, said she was keen to now chase the UFC flyweight title after a performance where she continually scored damage on the feet.
She has now won three in a row.
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