UFC 231 results, highlights: Max Holloway batters Brian Ortega to retain featherweight title - CBS Sports

Rumors of Max Holloway's demise were greatly exaggerated after all.

Putting aside a disastrous 2018 in which his health was called into question, the UFC's 145-pound champion outlasted a determined Brian Ortega in a UFC 231 main event that will go down as one of the best action fights of the calendar year.

Cageside doctors chose not to let Ortega come out for the fifth round with his left eye badly swollen and his nose bleeding as Holloway improved his win streak to 13 in a violent war inside Toronto's Scotiabank Arena.

Holloway (20-3) leaped the fence upon the stoppage and got in the face of the UFC's announce team to scream, "I told you," before declaring himself the best featherweight champion in company history. Considering Holloway owns two brutal stoppage wins over longtime king Jose Aldo, his claim may not be far off.

"Is there anyone else?" Holloway said. "Step forward, let's go!"

The 27-year-old Holloway was twice forced out of fights in 2018 due to medical reasons, including a scheduled bout against Ortega at UFC 226 in July when he looked lethargic and was visibly slurring his words during interviews. Despite doctors proving unable to come to terms on a diagnosis for what happened, Holloway powered through amid a vocal minority questioning whether him fighting so soon was the right move.

Holloway also became the betting underdog over the final 24 hours leading up to the fight.

"My fans got rich," he said. "You're welcome my friends."

Not only did Holloway quiet critics, including a worried Ortega, by making weight with ease on Friday, he very much looked the part of pound-for-pound elite inside the Octagon thanks to his trademark volume striking and pinpoint accuracy.

The key for Holloway proving able to keep the fight on the feet where he held an advantage in terms of striking was his repeated ability to either stuff Ortega's takedown attempts or quickly regain his feet each time his back hit the ground. Ortega (14-1, 1 NC), one of the most dangerous jiu-jitsu practitioners in the sport, was never able to threaten on the ground.

That doesn't mean Ortega wasn't effective. In fact, his ability to absorb clean, hard punches from Holloway and dangerously continue forward turned out to be the reason why the fight was such savage and fantastic theater.

"He's a tough opponent and a tough guy and we will probably see each other all the way to heavyweight because we like to eat," Holloway said. "It is what it is."

CBS Sports was with you for every punch, kick and submission attempt from Toronto with our live blog below. If you are having trouble viewing the blog, please click here.

UFC 230 card/results

Max Holloway (c) def. Brian Ortega via fourth-round TKO (doctor's stoppage)
Valentina Shevchenko (c) def. Joanna Jedrzejczyk via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
Gunnar Nelson def. Alex Oliveira via second-round submission (rear-naked choke)
Hakeem Dawodu def. Kyle Bochniak via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Thiago Santos def. Jimi Manuwa via second-round knockout (ref stoppage)
Nina Ansaroff def. Claudia Gadelha via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Gilbert Burns def. Olivier Aubin-Mercier via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Jessica Eye def. Katlyn Chookagian via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Elias Theodorou def. Eryk Anders via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

UFC 231 updates, highlights

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