It was not the virtuoso performance to which the buying public had grown accustomed, but Max Holloway once again showed the unbreakable resolve that not long ago brought him to the front of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s featherweight line.
The Hawaiian likely cemented himself as the No. 1 contender at 145 pounds, as he outstruck “The Ultimate Fighter Latin America” winner Yair Rodriguez to a unanimous decision in the UFC Fight Night 197 main event on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Holloway carried all three scorecards, drawing 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47 marks from the cageside judges.