Max Holloway knocked out Justin Gaethje in the final second of their UFC 300 clash to win the BMF title.
In one of the most highly-anticipated clashes to feature on the star-studded card, the former featherweight king stepped up to the 155lbs to face perennial contender Gaethje.
On Saturday night the pair engaged in a instant classic at the T-Mobile Arena, with the ensuing showdown between the perpetual fan favourites more than befitting the BMF moniker.
From the first round Holloway utilised his boxing to control the contest and invested early in hitting the body of his opponent.
Then, as the opening frame reached its conclusion, Holloway threw a spinning back which caught a ducking Gaethje flush on the nose, appearing to cause an immediate break and leaving him compromised for the rest of the fight.
Max Holloway knocked out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 to become the new BMF titleholder
Former featherweight champion rendered Gaethje unconscious in the final second of the five-round fight
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The second round was blighted by a pair of eye pokes that saw the challenger warned by referee Mark Goddard, but after the action resumed the Hawaiian again set about racking up accumulative damage with a variety of strikes.
Gaethje’s patented low kicks remained a threat throughout, as he continually chopped away at the challenger’s lead leg to seemingly no effect.
Holloway’s weaponised pace appeared to drown the 35-year-old as the rounds wore on, as he repeatedly absorbed shots to the body and head.
In the fourth of five scheduled rounds Gaethje’s power finally shined through and he dropped Holloway to the canvas with a well-timed counter, but the former featherweight managed to make a instant recovery.
Already a legendary showdown between two of the sport’s most beloved competitors, the fifth and final round would elevate the fights status to new levels.
After coming close to finishing his opponent multiple times, as the clapper sounded to mark ten seconds left in the fight Holloway beckoned Gaethje to join him in the centre of the Octagon in the way he so famously did with Ricardo Lamas in 2016.
The two fighters immediately began trading strikes and with just one second remaining Holloway landed an inch-perfect right hand to instantly render Gaethje unconscious.
Holloway dominated much of the contest, investing early in attacking Gaethje’s body
But Gaethje remained dangerous throughout, firing back with counterpunches and low kicks
After the fight Holloway called for a title fight at either featherweight or lightweight
Speaking following the fight Joe Rogan called the finish the ‘greatest knockout of all time’ and Holloway gave props to his opponent whilst calling for a clash with sitting featherweight king Ilia Topuria.
‘Give it up for Gaethje, a real BMF,’ He said. ‘He had nothing to gain and everything to lose. I am him guys. El Matador is running away from the bull at 145.
‘Even Islam [Makhachev]. I’m here, I’m right here! Any weight, I am a gladiator, let’s get it! I want 600k, that was Fight of the Night and finish of the night.’
