The trilogy between Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway is back on and will go down during International Fight Week 2022.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway III
Ariel Helwani was first to report the news that the trilogy bout between Volkanovski (24-1) and Holloway (23-6) will finally commence at UFC 276 on July 2 during International Fight Week. MiddleEasy confirmed the highly anticipated featherweight matchup; however, contracts have yet to be signed.
UFC is targeting Alex Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway 3 in July, sources say.
First choice, at the moment, is July 2, but could be July 30, as well. Few moving parts on those two cards. But looking like that one goes down in July either way at this point.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 5, 2022
History
The trilogy was originally scheduled for UFC 273, but Holloway had to pull out of the fight with an injury. In the first matchup, Volkanovski took Holloway’s belt at UFC 245 in December of 2019 via unanimous decision. After that, the pair of featherweights rematched on Fight Island at UFC 251, and Volkanovski defeated Hollway again, but this time it was a very controversial split decision.
Volkanovski is riding a 21-fight win streak and has defended his featherweight championship three times. In his last outing, he battered The Korean Zombie and eventually finished him. Before that, he battered Brian Ortega during International Fight Week 2021 at UFC 266.
Since losing to Volkanovski the second time, Holloway went back to knocking off top featherweight contenders. To kick off 2021, he put on a performance of a lifetime by outclassing Calvin Katter on Fight Island. ‘Blessed’ would end his year by putting on a Fight of the Year contender against Yair Rodriguez, winning via unanimous decision.
UFC 276
UFC 276 is expected to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 2, 2022. Israel Adesanya vs. Jarred Cannonier has been rumored to headline.
So far, the rest of the card looks like this:
- Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway III – for the featherweight championship
- Miesha Tate vs. Lauren Murphy
- Jessica Eye vs. Maycee Barber
- Brad Tavares vs. Dricus du Plessis
- Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Julija Stoliarenko
- Uriah Hall vs. André Muniz
- Robbie Lawler vs. Bryan Barberena
- Sean Strickland vs. Alex Pereira
- Sean O’Malley vs. Pedro Munhoz
