Max Holloway Turns Aside Arnold Allen in UFC on ESPN 44 Headliner

Once again, Max Holloway proved that he is simply too much to handle for every featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship but one.

In the main event of UFC on ESPN 44 on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri, the 31-year-old Hawaiian (24-7) took a decision over streaking contender Arnold Allen. However, it was a memorable scrap for all 25 minutes, as Allen (19-2) had more apparent success against Holloway than any featherweight not named Alexander Volkanovski has in nearly a decade.

In a fight contested completely on the feet, “Almighty” landed in volume and with stinging power and, just as importantly, kept Holloway from getting his usual forward march truly going.

Nonetheless, Allen was clearly behind on the scorecards going into the final frame, and with his head coach Firas Zahabi’s acknowledgement between rounds that he needed a finish, the Brit did his best to oblige. Allen came out with a furious pace, landed numerous hard punches and several head kicks, and appeared to have Holloway hurt a few times, if not seriously compromised. Holloway fired right back, however, refusing to get on his bicycle and even knocking Allen down as the final horn sounded.

In the end, the judges scored the fight unanimously (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) in Holloway’s favor. The win elevated his UFC record to 20-7 and left him a very interested observer of Volkanovski’s scheduled title defense on July 8 against Yair Rodriguez, against whom Holloway already has a win. Allen’s first UFC loss left him at 11-1 in the Octagon and snapped a 12-fight win streak.

Barboza Melts Quarantillo

THIS KNEE 🤯@EdsonBarbozaJR isn’t going anywhere! #UFCKansasCity pic.twitter.com/bRXF0So8Io

— UFC (@ufc) April 16, 2023

Edson Barboza may be in the final act of his career, but there is always room for one more on his legendary highlight reel.

Barboza (23-11) needed barely half a round to victimize Billy Quarantillo in their co-headlining featherweight affair. The Brazilian, who turned 37 in January, came out looking as sharp and serious as ever, meeting Quarantillo’s pursuit with lateral movement, punch counters and some of his trademark leg kicks. On several occasions in the brief fight, Quarantillo looked to close the distance with an overhand right before changing levels. Halfway through the round, Barboza sniffed out one such attempt, ate the punch and met the level change with an intercepting right knee.

Quarantillo was separated from his senses instantly, collapsing in a heap at the base of the fence. No follow-up was necessary, as referee Keith Peterson swooped in to stave off further punishment.

The sensational knockout elevated Barboza’s Octagon record to 17-11 and evened up his tally at 3-3 since dropping from lightweight to featherweight a few years ago. Quarantillo fell to 5-3 in the promotion, having alternated wins and losses after a 3-0 start.

Still undefeated!!

Azamat Murzakanov moves to 13-0 with a decision win over Dustin Jacoby #UFCKansasCity pic.twitter.com/yjqAg0838Z

— UFC (@ufc) April 16, 2023

Murzakanov Drops, Outlasts Jacoby

Azamat Murzakanov kept his professional record spotless, though Dustin Jacoby certainly made it interesting.

In their main card light heavyweight showcase, Murzakanov’s aggression, hand speed and power clearly had Jacoby uncomfortable, which was only exacerbated by the Russian’s sporadic but timely takedown attempts. “The Professional” dropped Jacoby with punches in Round 1, busting up his nose in the bargain.

Murzakanov knocked him again late in Round 2, in a flurry that might have precipitated the end of the fight if time had not expired. Clearly behind on the scorecards, Jacoby came roaring back in the final frame, fighting with aggression, hurting Murzakanov and even hitting a takedown of his own, but it was not enough. The judges awarded the fight to Murzakanov via unanimous 29-28 scores, bringing the 36-year-old’s record to 13-0 overall (3-0 UFC) and positioning him for a possible Top 10 matchup in his next outing. “The Hanyak,” valiant in defeat, fell to 18-7-1 as a pro and has now lost two straight after going on a 6-0-1 tear upon rejoining the UFC in 2020.

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Cutelaba Brutalizes Boser

HULK SMASH 👊 #UFCKansasCity pic.twitter.com/io3sTjOhmH

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 16, 2023

Tanner Boser took over two years preparing to drop to light heavyweight; Ion Cutelaba took barely two minutes to show him that his new division is not short on power, either.

Cutelaba (17-9-1) came out in typically aggressive fashion, moving forward and trying to land big right hands, while Boser (20-10-1) circled out and looked to counter. Ninety seconds in, the Moldovan mauler caught Boser with a right that staggered him badly, and from there the end was not long in coming. “The Hulk” flung Boser down and threw a torrent of punches as he tried to stand back up. Caught against the fence and eating a stream of unanswered blows, Boser was rescued by referee Keith Peterson, who stopped the mugging at 2 minutes, 5 seconds of Round 1.

The quick and brutal beating got Cutelaba back on track from a career-worst three-fight losing streak and lifted his UFC record to 6-8-1.

Boser, who had whittled down from nearly 250 pounds to around 225 since his Octagon debut in 2019 ahead of the move to 205, fell to 4-5 in the promotion.

Munhoz Outworks Gutierrez

Unanimous for the Young Punisher!@PedroMunhozMMA takes the decision over Chris Gutierrez at #UFCKansasCity 👏 pic.twitter.com/ChmGYA1Xqa

— UFC (@ufc) April 16, 2023

Pedro Munhoz righted the ship at Chris Gutierrez’s expense, reminding the Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight division that he is one of its very best fighters.

Munhoz (20-7, 2 NC) entered the Octagon having won just once in his last six fights. Desperately in need of some positive momentum, he fought like it, using relentless pressure and pace to win what seemed like every minute of the fight. Munhoz got off to a hot start, dropping Gutierrez (19-5-2) with a big left and dominating the rest of the first round with ground-and-pound, submission attempts and a brief advance to side control.

There would not be another single moment of game-changing offense from “The Young Punisher,” but the tone had been set: Munhoz marched Gutierrez down for the balance of the fight, reducing him to throwing single strikes off the back foot. Gutierrez made an effort to turn the tide in the final round, throwing some spinning attacks and even, in the closing moments, a rolling thunder kick, but nothing landed with effect.

The cageside judges scored the fight for Munhoz by unanimous 30-27 tallies, bringing the 36-year-old’s UFC record to 10-7 with two no contests. Gutierrez, who came into “UFC Kansas City” with a 7-1-1 Octagon record, had a four-fight win streak broken in defeat.

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Garcia Boxes Up Guida

Clay really had us in the first half 😮‍💨 #UFCKansasCity pic.twitter.com/g6fuTwkaAb

— UFC (@ufc) April 16, 2023

Perhaps reasoning that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Rafa Garcia used a rinse-and-repeat approach to sweep all three rounds against the ageless Clay Guida.

Garcia (15-3) leaned heavily on his jab, punctuated by a few judiciously applied low kicks and right crosses, to frustrate Guida (38-23) in the UFC Kansas City main card opener. Guida, newly shorn of his trademark locks, was his usual self on the feet, bobbing and weaving while looking to bounce into range and land hooks, but his usual ground assault was nowhere to be seen, especially in Round 1, when he did not attempt a single takedown.

Garcia took the fight “The Carpenter” gave him, nearly doubling his previous personal best in terms of strikes landed and leaving Guida’s face bloodied and swollen by the end. After three rounds, Garcia took the unanimous decision, sweeping all three rounds on the scorecards, and the lone moment of suspense came when Guida pulled off his gloves in the cage, only to spring a “gotcha” in his interview and proclaim that he was not, in fact, retiring.

The win elevated Garcia’s Octagon mark to 4-3; the 40-year-old Guida fell to 18-17 in the promotion.

#UFCKansasCity Official Scorecard: Clay Guida vs Rafa Garcia

See every scorecard from Fight Night ➡️: https://t.co/nxcHo6EnUA pic.twitter.com/k7lNlJw7m7

— UFC News (@UFCNews) April 16, 2023

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