Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was back at it again, as the world's largest mixed martial arts (MMA) organization staged UFC 206, which went down last night (Sat., Dec. 10, 2016) from inside Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, airing live on pay-per-view (PPV). Headlining the card was a Featherweight bout between former UFC Lightweight champion, Anthony Pettis, against No. 2-ranked 145-pound contender, Max Holloway. It was a thrilling bout that saw Hollway put Pettis away in the third round to claim the interim strap (video here).
In the co-main event of the evening, Donald Cerrone and Matt Brown went toe-to-toe in a bitter fight that saw Donald Cerrone get the last laugh after "Immortal" refused to shake his hand repeatedly during their face-to-face encounters during fight week, knocking him out with a head kick (replay here).
Biggest Winner: Max Holloway
We have a new interim Featherweight champion, ladies and gentleman, as "Blessed" touched up Anthony Pettis just enough to finish him in round three of the headlining fight to claim the crown that only he could walk home with after Pettis came in heavy. Anthony started off strong, but Holloway was game as ever, putting it on the former Lightweight champion, who suffered a broken hand in round two. Sure, that injury played a huge part going forward, but Holloway now has his tenth straight victory, his first world title and a future showdown against division champion Jose Aldo. Something he's wanted for the longest time. Now we just have to hope Aldo gets over his "pussyitis."
Runner (s) Up: Cub Swanson and Donald Cerrone
Swanson picked up his third straight victory in what was one of the most exciting fights you will ever see and the clear-cut winner of "Fight of the Year." For three rounds, he and Doo Ho Choi put it all on the line with every strike they threw. Though Cub ended up with the decision win, both men won the praise, love, glory you name it from fight fans around the world. For Swanson, the win is huge, as he is building up the momentum once again to get him into the title conversation after he was so close before dropping back-to-back fights to Frankie Edgar and Max Holloway.
Leading up to his matchup against Matt Brown, "Cowboy" was a bit confused as to why "Immortal" had so much animosity toward him. Indeed, on two separate occasion, Brown left Donald hanging when he went for a handshake, leaving the fearsome striker puzzled. Nevertheless, Cerrone got the last laugh, as he once again proved to be a "bully" inside the Octagon, knocking out Matt in round three with a vicious head kick. That is now four straight wins for "Cowboy" since moving up to welterweight, proving that the fan-favorite can win at any division after knocking heads for so long at Lightweight.
Biggest Loser: Anthony Pettis
You always hate to kick a defeated fighter when he's down, but the loss was a crucial one for "Showtime." After coming in three pounds overweight, Pettis, missed out on his opportunity to become the promotion's next multi-division champion. And after getting finished by "Blessed" in the third round, a broken Pettis has now lost three of four fights, an unfathomable thought a few years ago, as Pettis was considered to be one of the future faces of the promotion. The future is unclear for Anthony, as Dana White isn't too sure Pettis will remain at 145 pounds.
For complete UFC 206: "Holloway vs. Pettis" results, including play-by-play updates, click here.