UFC on ESPN 44 was an entertaining card from Kansas City headlined by former Featherweight Champion Max Holloway and British contender Arnold Allen. Holloway was able to outland Allen, earning a unanimous decision victory in a highly competitive main event. In the Co-Main event, dangerous Brazilian striker Edson Barboza viscously knocked out Billy Quarantillo with a flying knee. Barboza is a longtime UFC veteran who earned his fourteenth professional win by knockout this weekend. Also on the main card, ranked Bantamweights Pedro Munhoz and Chris Gutierrez battled to stay in contention at 135 lbs.

Max Holloway (24-7) Def. Arnold Allen (19-2)

Max Holloway put together a brilliant performance in the Main Event of UFC on ESPN 44. Allen was a serious contender who many believed would give Holloway problems due to his physical strength and youth. However, Holloway proved that he had gas left in the tank and turned back the hottest prospect in the Featherweight division. Entering this contest, Allen was unbeaten in the UFC (10-0) and had finished UFC veterans Dan Hooker and Calvin Kattar. Holloway was coming off a title loss to Alexander Volkanovski but returned to his winning ways Saturday night. Entering this contest, Holloway was a slight favorite (-180) at online sportsbooks.

In round one, Holloway set the tone with a quick jab and leg kicks at a distance. Holloway was hard to hit clean and evaded the powerful shots of Allen early in the round. Allen pressured Holloway but would get hit with multiple punches every time he tried to get on the inside. In the next round, Allen could connect on a straight left hand which was his most significant strike to that point. Round two was more competitive as Allen continued to pressure Holloway toward the cage.

Holloway was finding a home for his jab and started to separate himself on the scorecards in rounds three and four. Holloway out landed Allen 62-26 over the third and fourth rounds. The speed and elusiveness of Holloway were a factor throughout the fight. Before the final round, Allen’s corner told him he was down on the scorecards and needed a finish.

Final Round and What’s Next?

Allen started aggressively in the fifth and put together his best round of the fight. Allen threw caution to the wind and was able to outland Holloway 33-20 over the final five minutes. It would be too late for the upcoming British star as Holloway was awarded a unanimous decision victory (49-46, 49-46, 48-47). With this win, the former champion Holloway is in a great position in the division. Holloway is currently ranked as the No. 2 contender at 145 lbs but will need a few more wins before he is granted another opportunity at the title.

Holloway has faced most of the Featherweights inside the UFC’s top ten rankings. One opponent that Holloway has not faced yet is former interim title challenger No. 5 Josh Emmett (18-3). Emmet is coming off a recent submission loss to Yair Rodriguez but would provide a stylistic matchup with Holloway as a former college wrestler with heavy hands. Currently, Champion Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez are in talks with the UFC about an upcoming title fight at 145 lbs.

Edson Barboza (23-11) Def. Billy Quarantillo (17-5)

In the Co-Main event, UFC veteran and MMA pioneer Edson Barboza turned back the clock with a stunning flying knee knockout. Barboza has been competing in the UFC since 2010 and holds some of the most spectacular knockout victories in the company’s history. Barboza is 37 years old and is still as creative and dynamic as ever on the feet. Entering this contest, Barboza was 4-7 in his last eleven fights and desperately needed a victory. Quarantillo looked good with his striking in the early stages of the first round, landing successful combinations to the body and then head of Barboza.

Later in the round, as Quarantillo landed a left hand, he immediately dropped down to secure a takedown but was met with a perfectly timed knee that separated him from consciousness. Quarantillo dropped face-first, and Barboza landed two more punches to ensure it was over. This was an unpredictable and exhilarating knockout that left fans at the T-Mobile arena in Kansas City stunned. Barboza put on an absolute vintage performance that showcased the skills of a once truly great striker. This was a massive victory for Barboza in the later stages of his career, earning his fourteenth professional win by knockout.

Pedro Munhoz (20-7) Def. Chris Gutierrez (19-5)

In a battle of ranked Bantamweights, Pedro Munhoz defeated Chris Gutierrez by Unanimous Decision. Munhoz has faced top-level competition in the UFC but came into this contest off back-to-back losses to Marlon Vera and former champion Dominick Cruz. Gutierrez was on a seven-fight winning streak, having recently knocked out former Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Gutierrez entered this contest as a slight betting favorite (-215) at online sportsbooks.

Munhoz was unbothered by the high praise surrounding Gutierrez and was able to take control early on. In round one, Munhoz dropped Gutierrez with a massive left hand. Munhoz followed Gutierrez to the ground and remained in control for most of the round. In rounds two and three, Munhoz could land leg kicked at a distance and fought strategically with a lead. Gutierrez showed flashes of success in the striking but seemed to be a step behind the seasoned veteran Munhoz. After three rounds, all three judges scored the contest in favor of Munhoz (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

UFC on ESPN 44 Prelims:

The UFC on ESPN 44 prelims contained a few entertaining fights and highlight finishes. At 205 lbs Ion Cutelaba (17-9) was able to finish Tanner Boser (20-10-1) in the first round. Cutelaba is a well-rounded but aggressive fighter who earned his eleventh first-round finish this weekend. Boser was moving down in weight from the Heavyweight division, where he experienced mixed results, going the distance with title challenger Ciryl Gane. This fight was one-way traffic as Cutelaba was getting the better of Boser on the feet and knocked him out while he was trying to stand up from a takedown attempt. Boser had his right hand controlled by Cutelaba and ate multiple unanswered punches against the cage forcing the referee to stop the fight. Also, on the prelims, Brandon Royval (15-6) finished Matheus Nicolau (19-4) in a matchup of ranked Flyweights.

The UFC will return next weekend with a Fight Night card headlined by Heavyweights Curtis Blades (17-3) and Sergei Pavlovich (17-1).

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