MAX HOLLOWAY became the UFC interim featherweight champion after stopping Anthony Pettis in the third round of the main event at UFC 206.
That now sets up a unification bout against Jose Aldo, who was given the belt after Conor McGregor was stripped of it.
Elsewhere, there were wins for Donald Cerrone over Matt Brown and Cub Swanson who showed grit and determination to get past “The Korean Superboy” Doo Ho Choi.
Rounding off the main card, Kelvin Gastelum and Emil Meek got their hand raised against Tim Kennedy and Jordan Mein respectively.
Here are 5 things we learned from the event in Toronto:
1. Middleweight could be just right for Kelvin Gastelum
Gastelum was forced to fight at middleweight here by the UFC because of constant troubles trying to make the welterweight limit, which is where he normally competes.
The 25-year-old has missed weight three times, most recently being at UFC 205 when he was supposed to face Donald Cerrone, a fight which was scrapped for the sake of Gastelum’s health.
Following the cancellation of the fight, UFC president, Dana White, said: “I’ll never let him fight at 170 again.”
Although that isn’t what Gastelum wants to do, even saying he will show up on White’s doorstep weighing 170 pounds, he should seriously consider staying at middleweight.
Add that to the fact that Gastelum is unbeaten in the weight class, winning The Ultimate Fighter 17 before adding victories over Nate Marquardt and Kennedy, he could have found a new home.
2. Swanson and Choi could be fight of the year
What a battle these two featherweights put on.
Choi was coming in with an impeccable UFC record, winning his first three fights by knockout. Meanwhile, Swanson was a stalwart of the division, ranked fourth and fighting some of the toughest guys at 145 pounds.
Not only could it be fight of the year, they could also have round of the year after the madness that took place in round two. It had it all from vicious striking to takedowns to scrambles.
Swanson found a way to see off the Korean, and rounds off a perfect year, having beat Hacran Dias and Tatsuya Kawijiri. He will hope to mount a challenge at the featherweight title in 2017.
3. Donald Cerrone could finally reach the UFC gold
Donald Cerrone has looked exceptional at welterweight since he moved up in weight class earlier this year, and Saturday night was no different.
Barring a temporary knockdown in round two, he controlled the majority of the fight, lighting Matt Brown up with constant attacks to the face and body, something which would tell in the later rounds.
The head kick that dropped Brown and ended the fight was one to behold – perfectly timed and showing just what Cerrone is all about – exciting fights.
A UFC belt is the only thing missing from an illustrious Cerrone career, and having lost in a lightweight title fight in December 2015, he could make a run at the welterweight strap in 2017.
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4. Night of the knockout
With UFC 206 having possibly the “Fight of the Year”, and the “Round of the Year”, add “Knockout of the Year” to that list as well.
The spinning kick with which Lando Vannata knocked out John Makdessi is one that will live long in the memory, and it further cemented Vannata’s spot in the UFC, getting his first win after throwing all he had at number one ranked Tony Ferguson in July.
Max Holloway also finished Anthony Pettis in the main event, which was the first time that Pettis had been knocked out in his 25 professional fights.
Each knockout had their own style to it, be it the viciousness of Vannata and Cerrone or the crisp and accurate striking of Gastelum and Holloway.
5. Featherweight isn’t for Anthony Pettis
You really have to feel for Anthony Pettis.
Since losing his lightweight title to Rafael dos Anjos in March 2015, “Showtime” has lost three of his last four, his only win coming against Charles Oliveria in his featherweight debut in August of this year.
The 29-year-old moved down in weight to try and make a career resurgence after being beat by top contenders Eddie Alvarez and Edson Barboza, but it’s evident he will have to step back up after this fight.
Missing weight and the way he looked on the scales, it’s clear that this isn’t the right weight class for Pettis, and he acknowledged as much himself after the fight.
It isn’t the end of Anthony Pettis, just a tough period.
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