Max Holloway proved he’s still the standard among featherweight contenders on Saturday when he ended Arnold Allen’s winning streak in the UFC on ESPN 44 headliner.
Holloway (24-7 MMA, 20-7 UFC) bounced back from his title-fight loss to Alexander Volkanovski in July with a unanimous decision over Allen (19-2 MMA, 10-1 UFC) in the main event at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Allen came into the fight with a flawless octagon record through 10 octagon appearances, but “Blessed” brought an end to all that and once again changed the conversation at 145 pounds.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Holloway’s victory over at UFC on ESPN 44.
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MMA Junkie
The #UFCKansasCity main event between Max Holloway and Arnold Allen is moments away! Who ya got?
Play-by-play: https://t.co/u9nttM9rtM pic.twitter.com/538Yg8QYDR
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 16, 2023
Nick Kalikas
#UFCKansasCity Main Event Closing Betting Odds via @CircaSports
Arnold Allen +140
Max Holloway -160@UFC 💰 | @ESPNPlus | @ESPN— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) April 16, 2023
UFC
The biggest opportunity of his career!@ArnoldBFA making his walk to the Octagon at #UFCKansasCity pic.twitter.com/Hs81LBULjK
— UFC (@ufc) April 16, 2023
UFC
Blessed. is. BACK!@BlessedMMA coming to remind 'em who's best at #UFCKansasCity! pic.twitter.com/crwSJI8CJU
— UFC (@ufc) April 16, 2023
UFC
And here. We. GO!! #UFCKansasCity pic.twitter.com/F52moONeIl
— UFC (@ufc) April 16, 2023
Aaron Bronsteter
3,528 days since Max Holloway's last loss in a non-title fight (vs. Conor McGregor on Aug. 17, 2013)
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) April 16, 2023
Sodiq Yusuff
It's hard not to like arnold allen
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) April 16, 2023
Cageside Press
Max takes a low blow in the opening minute and thankfully we're back underway quickly #UFCKansasCity
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) April 16, 2023
Alan Jouban
The back on Allen! #UFCKansasCity
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) April 16, 2023
Bloody Elbow
High kick from Allen. Both men land jabs. Holloway goes to the body & a 1-2 upstairs. Body combo from Holloway. Body kick from Holloway, Allen with a left hook counter. Right from Holloway. Allen with a body kick, eats a left. Holloway jabs the body & lands a 1-2. #UFCKansasCity
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) April 16, 2023
Fight Ghost
Holloway winning. Bisping calling a biased fight for Allen. #ufckansascity
— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) April 16, 2023
Nick Baldwin
10-9 Holloway in the first. Just did a bit more than Allen.
— Nick Baldwin (@NickBaldwinMMA) April 16, 2023
UFC
Feeling it out early 👊 #UFCKansasCity pic.twitter.com/LnmdJ7eECK
— UFC (@ufc) April 16, 2023
Dustin Poirier
Max is smooth and patient.. a true veteran of our sport at the highest level #UFCKansasCity
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) April 16, 2023
Aljamain Sterling
Max looking extra slick today! #UFCKansasCity
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 16, 2023
Kevin Iole
Overhand left by ALlen lands, and then he lands a combination.
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) April 16, 2023
Jed Meshew II
Arnold got some respect now and has Max being a little more cautious, tentative in spots. But he’s targeting the body extremely well which may lay off in the later rounds. 19-19
— Jed Meshew II (@JedKMeshew) April 16, 2023
Sean Sheehan
19-19 good second round for Arnold Allen. #UFCKansasCity
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) April 16, 2023
Stephen Thompson
Holloway up 2 in my opinion. His ability to counter Allen’s power with 3-4 strikes is amazing!! #UFCKansasCity
— Wonderboy (@WonderboyMMA) April 16, 2023
Nick Kalikas
#UFCKansasCity LIVE In-Game Wagering Odds After RD-2 via @CircaSports
Arnold Allen +300
Max Holloway -405@UFC 💰 | @ESPNPlus | @ESPN— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) April 16, 2023
Teddy Atlas
Allen better that round closing gap but Holloway upped his countering, close rd. Edge Holloway. #UFCFightNight #UFC
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) April 16, 2023
Caposa
Allen is whiffing a lot on these shots
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) April 16, 2023
UFC
3 rounds in the books!
Who's winning on your scorecards? 👇 #UFCKansasCity pic.twitter.com/W4CHWT8N0d
— UFC (@ufc) April 16, 2023
Ariel Helwani
29-28 Holloway after 3
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 16, 2023
Nick Kalikas
#UFCKansasCity LIVE In-Game Wagering Odds After RD-3 via @CircaSports
Arnold Allen +360
Max Holloway -505@UFC 💰 | @ESPNPlus | @ESPN— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) April 16, 2023
Aljamain Sterling
I’m saying it’s 2-1 Holloway #UFCKansasCity
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 16, 2023
Alexander K Lee
Arnold Allen going to the championship rounds for the first time in his UFC career
This is the eighth straight fight that Holloway has gone past the third #UFCKansasCity
— Alexander K Lee (@AlexanderKLee) April 16, 2023
Alexander Volkanovski
Very competitive fight! #UFCKansasCity
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) April 16, 2023
ESPN
Max Holloway has surpassed 3,000 significant strikes landed in his UFC career #UFCKansasCity
UNREAL 🤯 pic.twitter.com/LA7RL4if5R
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 16, 2023
Dustin Poirier
Allen trying to use the elbow guard I had success with as a southpaw with Max! Big rounds next!
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) April 16, 2023
Stephen Thompson
Another one for Holloway. Allen is throwing heat but Max’s distance management and combos are shining! #UFCKansasCity
— Wonderboy (@WonderboyMMA) April 16, 2023
Sean Sheehan
Kevin Iole
Holloway takes fourth 10-9. He’s up 39-37 on my card. Though fourth round was close. #UFCKansasCity
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) April 16, 2023
Fight Ghost
Allen corner tells him the truth. You gotta stop him. World War 3. ##ufckansascity
— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) April 16, 2023
Bloody Elbow
Allen's corner telling him to go to war. Needs a KO to win. Allen says "Dan Hooker time?" and corner agrees. #UFCKansasCity
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) April 16, 2023
Brad Tavares
Max is out landing him, and doing overall more damage. I got it 4-0 for max going into the 5th. #UFCKansasCity
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) April 16, 2023
Derek Brunson
Holloway and Allen are throwing #UFCKansasCity
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 16, 2023
Teddy Atlas
Holloway is like a maestro conducting an orchestra, controlling the rhythm. #UFCKansasCity
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) April 16, 2023
Eric Jackman
This is impressive from Arnold Allen no matter the outcome. Felt the same sort of way after Yair Rodriguez fought Max Holloway.
— Eric Jackman (@NewYorkRic) April 16, 2023
Shaheen Al-Shatti
Frankly stunned Max Holloway's chin is still as good as it is after all these wars. Man is made out of concrete. #UFCKansasCity
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) April 16, 2023
Aaron Bronsteter
I have it 48-47 Max.
2 of 3 judges would have to give Arnold both rounds 2 and 4, the two closest rounds of the fight, in order for him to win, which I think is very unlikely.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) April 16, 2023
Aljamain Sterling
That was a cool ass ending! #UFCKansasCity
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 16, 2023
UFC
25 minutes done!
Decision between these two up next at #UFCKansasCity pic.twitter.com/F3njurxsxc
— UFC (@ufc) April 16, 2023
Brett Okamoto
Some vintage Max Holloway in the final seconds of the fight. Rocked Arnold Allen, who had a fantastic round to that point. Holloway should take a decision in a good performance. Will be interesting to see where he goes with the mic time.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 16, 2023
MMA Junkie
#UFCKansasCity results: Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) def. Arnold Allen via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
Full story: https://t.co/u9nttM9rtM pic.twitter.com/kf3UnixLH6
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 16, 2023
Stephen Thompson
Max took that IMO…. He is masterful out there. Totally in his element. born for it. #UFCKansasCity
— Wonderboy (@WonderboyMMA) April 16, 2023
Alexander Volkanovski
Max showing great fight IQ and experience. High level fight…well done lads 👏 #UFCKansasCity
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) April 16, 2023
Belal Muhammad
Blessed is back!!
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 16, 2023
MS
What is your chin made of? pic.twitter.com/St576dYRH5
— MS (@UFC_Obsessed) April 16, 2023
Eric Nicksick
What a scrap!! 🫡💯#UFCKansasCity
— Eric Nicksick (@Eric_XCMMA) April 16, 2023
UFC
Max Holloway is an absolute class act 🙌 #UFCKansasCity pic.twitter.com/2bHQpXn5fn
— UFC (@ufc) April 16, 2023
Ariel Helwani
Incredible bounce back performance for Holloway after it was unclear where he stood following Volk 3.
Also big takeaway: Alex Volkanovski is really, really good.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 16, 2023
Marlon Vera
Well done max. Well done
— C H🖕🏽T O🇪🇨V E R A (@chitoveraUFC) April 16, 2023
UFC
Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) is the 12th fighter in @UFC history to earn 20 victories.
Tonight he also became the first fighter to land 3000 significant strikes in the UFC and the third fighter to log seven hours of Octagon time (Dos Anjos, Edgar).
All #UFCKansasCity Results ⤵️
— UFC News (@UFCNews) April 16, 2023
MMA Junkie
"WHAT NOW? WHAT NOW? TALK YOUR SH*T."
Max Holloway was FIRED UP as he walked past press row after ending Arnold Allen's streak. 😳#UFCKansasCity | Full story: https://t.co/SquE0JRKRH pic.twitter.com/gEBDVwQNFz
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 16, 2023
