Dominant Holloway stops Ortega by TKO at UFC
toronto — Featherweight champion Max Holloway stopped top contender Brian Ortega by TKO at UFC 231 on Saturday night
The fight was stopped by the doctor after four rounds. Ortega’s left eye was almost closed, his face bloodied.
The skills of Holloway, who was returning from an injury-plagued year, were too much for Ortega, who had rallied in the third round but was unable to take Holloway down or use his vaunted jiu-jitsu.
“Kudos to him,” Holloway said of Ortega. “On to the next (opponent).” UFC president Dana White applauded the decision to end the fight.
“That fifth round should never have happened and I’m glad it didn’t,” he said. “The fight needed to be stopped. For us all of in here that have been in the fight game for a long time, that’s what you call too tough for your own good.
“I believe he could have done the fifth round. I believe he would have done the fifth round. But it should have never happened ... He’s a young talented guy and I think going into that fifth round would have been very bad for him health-wise. The fourth round wasn’t good for him health-wise.”
Holloway improved to 20-3-0, adding to his impressive credentials, while Ortega slipped to 14-10 with one no contest.
It could be Holloway’s last fight at 145 pounds. White wants him to move up to lightweight (155) to avoid the grueling weight cut.
Valentina Shevchenko, a native
The fight needed to be stopped. For us all of in here that have been in the fight game for a long time, that’s what you call too tough for your own good
Dana White
of Kyrgyzstan fighting out of Peru, overpowered a game, but outmatched Joanna Jedrzejczyk, of Poland, for the vacant women’s flyweight title in the co-main event. Shevchenko won a unanimous fiveround decision. “I have been waiting so long for this moment,” the 30-year-old Shevchenko said.
Ortega, an accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, entered the arena to the sounds of DMX’s “X Gon’ Give It To Ya.” Holloway walked out to “Game Over” by Lil’ Flip and then “Hawaiian Kickboxer” by Moke Boy.
The crowd started chanting “Holloway, Holloway” as the two circled each other. Ortega scored with counter punches as the champion came forward and connected with an elbow. A relaxed Holloway began to find his striking distance and stuffed a takedown as the round ended.
Ortega’s nose began to bleed profusely in the second as Holloway fired punches. Another takedown was rebuffed and Holloway taunted Ortega. The two exchanged words after the round that was dominated by Holloway. —