VOLKANOVSKI KEEPS HIS TITLE AT UFC 276

Alexander Volkanovski defeated Max Holloway for the third time Saturday night, defending his featherweight title by unanimous decision with a dominant striking performance at UFC 276.

Volkanovski (25-1) extended his winning streak to 22 fights with a commanding display against Holloway (23-7), the former champion at 145 pounds. Volkanovski executed a sharp boxing game plan against one of the UFC’S best punchers, bloodying Holloway’s face early on and steadily increasing the punishment into the final minutes.

Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya faced Jared Cannonier in the main event from T-mobile Arena on the Vegas Strip. Adesanya won by unanimous decision.

The penultimate bout of UFC 276 concluded a memorable trilogy between Volkanovski and Holloway, likely the two greatest featherweights in UFC history outside of long-reigning champ Jose Aldo. Volkanovski won two highly competitive fights by decision over Holloway in 2019 and 2020, but Holloway won his next two fights to reassert his claim to another shot at the belt he held for three years.

“Max Holloway is an absolute beast,” Volkanovski said. “That intensity that we both had, I needed it. I really needed it. I had to get in my own head.”

Horse racing

Favorite Olympiad ($5) surged past Caddo River entering the final turn and pulled away in the stretch to win the $750,000 Stephen Foster by 21⁄4 lengths over Americanrevolution at Churchill Downs and automatically qualify for this fall’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland Race Course.

• Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal came out of the last leg of the Triple Crown with bone bruising and will be out of training for 60 days. Jerry Crawford, CEO of Donegal Racing, and coowner Mike Repole said Saturday the colt will continue to be evaluated.

Locally

The San Diego Strike Force (3-11) lost, 53-47, to the Tucson Sugar Skulls (8-6) at Pechanga Arena in Indoor Football League play. With the win, Tucson earned a spot in the playoffs. Strike Force wide receiver Marques “Hoodie” Rodgers had three second-half touchdown catches.

• Former SDSU player Chad Baker-mazara has committed to Northwest

Florida State College, the defending JC national champion located in Niceville, Fla. The plan is to play one year there, get academically eligible and transfer to a four-year D-I program for his final two seasons.

Soccer

Dylan Teves scored his first MLS goal in his first start to help the undermanned Seattle Sounders (8-7-2) beat Toronto FC (5-10-3) 2-0.

• Paraguayan international Andres Cubas scored his first MLS goal in the 89th minute to give the host Vancouver Whitecaps (7-8-3) a 1-0 victory over LAFC (11-4-3).

Sports and courts

Attorneys for multiple women suing Deshaun Watson over sexual misconduct are seeking the documents from the NFL’S investigation into the former Houston Texans quarterback. According to the motion filed Friday by the women’s attorneys, the legal team seeks any and all reports and files from the NFL’S investigation into Watson. That includes recorded interviews, witness statements and communications. Watson, who was later traded to the Browns, has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to clear his name. He is facing discipline from the NFL over the allegations. In June, Watson settled 20 of 24 lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct.

WNBA

Breanna Stewart traded for her Seattle teammate Sue Bird in the WNBA All-star draft. Bird was set to be a cocaptain with A’ja Wilson before Stewart pulled off the deal to acquire Bird for Sylvia Fowles. Bird and Fowles are both set to retire at the end of the season. Bird will be playing in her record 13th All-star Game on July 10 in Chicago. Fowles has played in eight.

Stewart also acquired Nneka Ogwumike for Sabrina Ionescu in a separate trade with Wilson. Candace Parker was the first pick of the draft.

• Allie Quigley scored 19 points to lead five Chicago players scoring in double figures, Parker added 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and the Sky (15-5) never trailed in a 91-75 win over Phoenix.

NHL

Florida Panthers winger Anthony Duclair has undergone surgery to repair an Achilles tendon injury. The team says he is expected to return in the middle of next season.