Holloway shows no signs of letting up in five round war with Allen

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While another crack at featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski remains out of reach, Max Holloway proved he remains the standard in the division as he fended off a spirited challenge from England's Arnold Allen over five rounds.

"Blessed" took many of the best shots that his opponent had to offer but was able to control the fight down the stretch to keep his name close to the very top at 145 pounds in the main event of the UFC's highly anticipated return to Kansas City.

Garcia pieces up veteran Guida

Rafa Garcia def. Clay Guida via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Too sharp, too fast and perhaps too young - it was a breakout win to raise the curtain for the main card as Rafa Garcia bludgeoned legendary UFC veteran Clay Guida for three rounds.

Guida was making his 35th Octagon appearance at the age of 41, twitching and moving early and tagging his adversary with an overhand right. It wouldn't take long however for Garcia to gauge the timing and begin landing straight shots including a myriad of jab, leaving his opponent busted up by the end of the first.

A lead uppercut and elbow were on the mark early before Garcia shrugged off a takedown attempt and continued to land the jab at will through the second. The odd shot would sneak through for "The Carpenter" but otherwise Garcia was in full command of the fight, beginning to throw uppercuts behind the jab and punctuating another dominant round with a couple of straight rights.

Guida landed a rare combination early in round three as the crowd tried to spur on the UFC hero but Garcia remained composed and stuck to his gameplan, reading the one-dimensional attacks from Guida. He defended the sporadic takedown attempts and teed off down the stretch, going for a takedown of his own late in the fight. It appeared Guida was ready to call it a day as he removed his gloves following the result announcement, rather it was a show of respect to his young opponent to swap over the leather.

Munhoz halts fledging contender

Pedro Munhoz def. Chris Gutierrez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

It wasn't pretty at times but Pedro Munhoz proved a gatekeeper too difficult to crack as he halted the fledging Chris Gutierrez.

Gutierrez was feinting heavily as the pair exchanged kicks before Munhoz displayed his power when he dropped the Boston resident with a left hook. Gutierrez closed his guard while he attempted to clear his head and worked his way back to the feet as Munhoz pursued a submission. Gutierrez was able to land a string of jabs at the end of the round but was clearly still shaken by the knockdown.

Round two was on a knife edge as Gutierrez was hesitant to commit while making Munhoz miss often. Munhoz was continuing to apply pressure to disrupt the game of his younger opponent.

Fans in attendance at the T-Mobile Center were vocal in their boos as Munhoz pressured more in the third round while Gutierrez struggled to get going barring a right hand and body kick. Munhoz landed some good combinations while Gutierrez pawed with his shots and the fight fizzled out to a decision nod for the Brazilian.

"The Hulk" re-emerges

Ion Cutelaba def. Tanner Boser via TKO (strikes), round 1 (2:05)

Sweet rage of victory was finally tasted by Ion Cutelaba as he snapped his losing skid with an explosive first-round finish over divisional returner Tanner Boser.

Boser was making his first appearance at 205 pounds in nine years after a long spell at heavyweight, and looked to make use of his newly found speed with sharp straight shots, while Cutelaba attempted to counter while sitting down on his hooks. After a good kick to the body, Cutelaba threw a jab, leaving it out there a little longer to send a straight right down the pipe to buckle the legs of the Canadian. As he wobbled in retreat Cutelaba followed up the punches and landed a takedown, teeing off some ground and pound shots as he trapped Boser for the finish.

Murzaknov holds on to keep perfect record

Azamat Murzakonov def. Dustin Jacoby via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

It was a nervy final round with his gas tank waning, but Azamat Murzaknov kept his unbeaten record intact with a brilliant striking display against Dustin Jacoby.

The striking acumen of former professional kickboxer Jacoby and the reach advantage suggested he would enjoy success on the feet however it was the Russian instead. He got going with a couple of overhand lefts and then truly exhibited his power when he dropped Jacoby with a thumping jab. Murzakonov put his foot on the gas to try and take him out but Jacoby would scramble and eat more hard shots as he returned to his corner stunned.

Murzakonov slipped the jab to land another uppercut in round two followed with some more overhand lefts, proceeding to shoot for a takedown in which Dustin was able to defend. The pace would slow as Jacoby clinched against the cage before Murzakonov dropped Jacoby with a left hand and the American would be saved by the bell. 

The Russian was evidently tired in the third round and Jacoby looked to capitalise with some combinations before Murzakonov unsuccessfully went for a takedown. Jacoby would end up wasting crucial time trying to pursue a takedown of his own as time ran out and Murzakonov made it to the final bell.

Another highlight reel for timeless Barboza

Edson Barboza def. Billy Quarantillo via KO (knee), round 1 (2:37)

The phenom that is Edson Barboza shows no signs of letting up as, at the age of 37, the Brazilian was in the best shape of his life to deliver a knee to knock out Billy Quarantillo in the co-main spot.

Quarantillo chased a takedown off the bat and looked to take away the space from the veteran while Barboza slammed a few leg kicks and an overhand right. Edson timed the level change to perfection as Quarantillo dipped his head for a takedown, landing a knee on the button that dropped his opponent and landing a shot on the ground for good measure. It's another highlight reel knockout to add to the incredible collection for one of the most prolific strikers in UFC history.

"Blessed" beats Allen at his best

Max Holloway def. Arnold Allen via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)

"Blessed" remains one of the best as Max Holloway fended off a valiant Arnold Allen to keep his name close to the top of the featherweight pile.

England's Allen was heavy on the gas early and following a short pause due to a groin strike "Almighty" landed a solid left hook that got the former champion's attention. Holloway meanwhile landed some swift combinations of his own and began to find punches to the body as the action progressed. The Hawaiian would pour on the volume as the first five minutes expired, switching stances and going for a spinning back kick.

Allen looked to halt the momentum in its tracks and found success with a right hook followed with an overhand left, the latter of which was landed at several points during that part of the contest. Max's jab remained as sharp as ever while Allen tried to stand his ground and back him up. 

Holloway opened up the third with a blitz but would soon be bloodied after a left hand cut the inside of his left eyebrow. There was more urgency to the work of "Blessed" with some more straight shots while Allen tried to punch with him with some more successful overhand shots. Holloway briefly buckled the legs of the Englishman with a low kick and appeared to take the upper hand midway through the fight, tallying up the body kicks and going for a spinning back fist as Allen returned to his corner bloodied up.

Venturing into a fourth round for the first time in his professional career, Allen appeared to hold up well to the pace as he pressured to start and went for a high kick as well as a left hand. Holloway still remained comfortable and in control with more punches and circling away from the power shots of his opponent. Allen's nose would be busted via a hard one-two and then ate some more body kicks for his troubles with a finish appearing necessary for him to salvage the fight in the final round.

Firas Zahabi implored the Englishman to go for it in the final round and he did just that, landing some good hooks before Holloway responded with a knee and spinning elbow in the midst of the fire. Holloway ate some power shots well and came back with more body kicks before a dramatic final minute saw Holloway briefly buzzed with a left hand before dropping Allen as he came forward in the final few seconds.

Allen certainly proved he has the minerals to compete at the very top of 145 pounds but Holloway's experience, movement and defence were key to victory. He was able to keep the fight to his rhythm for a majority of the contest while his chin once again stood up to the test, eating several of Allen's overhand lefts that would have dropped many a featherweight. It may be a hard case for "Blessed" to get a fourth fight with current champion Alexander Volkanovski who he is 0-3 against, but he will be watching the unification fight later this year between the Aussie and Yair Rodriguez very closely.