Max Holloway vs. Ricardo Lamas

Round 1
Holloway presses out from the center of the cage, reaching out his long jab and getting a kick to the lead leg in return. He catches Lamas throwing a leg kick and nearly takes out the base of “The Bully,” but both men stay upright. Lamas is moving to his right around the outside, toward the power hand of the southpaw, and Holloway is using the momentum to land some hard lefts. Lamas covers up after one attack, so Holloway gives him a few rib roasters instead. Lamas barges off the fence, diving on a double-leg, but Holloway sprawls all over it and forces him to the ground. Lamas is twisted up underneath the Hawaiian but still glued to a single-leg, so Holloway opts to return to his feet. Another single-leg attempt from Lamas gets Holloway hopping on one leg, scooting backward to defend the shot against the cage. Holloway plants his feet in the gap at the base of the Octagon, and eventually Lamas is forced to give up on the takedown attempt. Holloway finishes strong, forcing Lamas to deflect a spinning kick and tapping him with a right hook on the chin.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Holloway

Round 2
The featherweights trade leg kicks in the opening minute before Lamas ties up and puts a few punches on Holloway’s body. Holloway goes right back to stalking Lamas around the edge of the cage, keeping the WEC vet’s back near the fence. It’s a relatively slow couple of minutes before Holloway explodes into a flurry of knees and long punches, zapping Lamas with more than one hard right hand. Holloway seems content to take Lamas’ return fire as long as he’s scoring with shots, too. Lamas dives for a takedown and gets headlocked, then spun to the ground, with Holloway landing in north-south position. Lamas wraps up Holloway by the waist and tries to sweep, but he only manages to get his back on the mat. Both fighters work back to their feet with just over 90 seconds left in the round. Lamas, now bleeding from the nose, comes over the top with a right hand. Holloway waits for him to come inside again and gives him a snappy pair of slapping punches to the sides of the face. Lamas tries another single-leg, switches to a double and winds up in a bizarre reverse-guillotine choke while seated on the ground. Holloway releases and switches to a rear-naked choke, but he’s only got one hook in and Lamas is able to slide free. Holloway spends the last 20 seconds dropping punches and elbows on his defensive opponent.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Holloway

Round 3
Lamas tries a capoeira kick as he attempts to string together some offense in the final frame, but Holloway easily avoids the strike. Stiff jab lands for Holloway, then he blocks a Lamas high kick and pops him with another. The Hawaiian’s reach continues to cause trouble for Lamas here in the third round, with Holloway able to reach in and touch Lamas without much fear of retaliation. Lamas tries to clinch and gets shoved against the fence, then released. He puts a right high kick on Holloway’s ear, but there’s not much behind it and Holloway just keeps coming. Holloway connects with an uppercut, then jacks Lamas’ jaw with a blistering left straight. Lamas looks to be in trouble as he grabs hold of Holloway’s legs and forces him against the cage. Holloway shoves him away, and the featherweights come back to the center for the final 20 seconds. It’s all mean-mugging and gunslinging from Holloway as he stands toe-to-toe with Lamas, both men throwing bombs until the final horn.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Holloway (30-27 Holloway)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Holloway (30-27 Holloway)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Holloway (30-27 Holloway)

The Official Result
Max Holloway def. Ricardo Lamas via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00