Holloway takes decision over Rodriguez in instant classic

The Blessed Express rolls on.

Max Holloway defeated Yair Rodriguez via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) in the UFC Fight Night featherweight main event Saturday in Las Vegas.

Holloway and Rodriguez delivered one of the best fights this year by trading shots on the feet and engaging in scrambles on the ground for the scheduled 25 minutes.

Rodriguez appeared to edge Holloway in Round 1 as the busier fighter. His best weapon was the low kick, and he forced the former UFC featherweight champion to change stances at one point.

But the momentum shifted to Holloway in the middle rounds. He punished Rodriguez with pressure on the feet and in the clinch, and he controlled "El Pantera" on the ground at certain points of the third, fourth, and fifth rounds.

Rodriguez rallied in a narrow fifth round, landing big shots against Holloway and eating Holloway's offense. It was likely Rodriguez's best round after the first, but it was also too little, too late; Holloway appeared to be up on the scorecards heading into the final frame.

By the end of the fight, Holloway was bloody and Rodriguez's face was badly swollen.

Holloway, one of the two best featherweights in MMA history, has won two straight and likely set up another title fight with current champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Holloway surrendered the belt to Volkanovski in 2019 and lost an immediate rematch in 2020, but the second fight was much closer, with some people scoring it for Holloway.

Rodriguez, who entered as the No. 3-ranked featherweight, returned to the Octagon after more than two years away due to various reasons, including a USADA whereabouts violation and an ankle injury. He was riding a three-fight unbeaten streak.