Khabib, Nate Diaz Among Pros Reacting to Max Holloway Stopping Brian Ortega at UFC 231

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Max Holloway UFC 206
Max Holloway UFC 206, Toronto, December 2016 Credit; Jay Anderson/Cageside Press

All eyes were on Toronto on Saturday night, where Max Holloway picked apart and downright battered Brian Ortega for the better part of four rounds, until the cageside doctor had seen enough, putting an end to the UFC 231 main event.

Max Holloway came into UFC 231 on perhaps the best winning streak in featherweight history. Regardless of promotion or length, Holloway had fought the best at 145lbs. Brian Ortega, however, was the one name that many felt could unseat the champ. Ortega was undefeated, and had a slick submission game. He could also stand and bang, as his knockout of Frankie Edgar earlier this year proved. Yet when the dust settled, the Hawaiian was still standing in the “tenth island.” And even Nate Diaz and Khabib Nurmagomedov were impressed.

Perhaps most incredible of all: Holloway called his shot, telling Joe Rogan at the start of the fourth round that he was going to finish the fight then and there. That round saw him thrash an already hurt Ortega, who was simply overwhelmed by Holloway’s volume strikes. Ortega had got the fight to the ground at times, but couldn’t keep it there. On the feet, he was eating three strikes for every one of his own. His eye was swelling shut. He was bloodied.

Willing to continue, mind you. But the doctor was having none of that. If you missed it, here’s a full recap. In the meantime, see how the pros reacted to Max Holloway’s performance below!

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