Max Holloway shrugged off questions regarding his health to author the performance of a lifetime at UFC 231.
Meanwhile, Valentina Shevchenko claimed the vacant women’s flyweight strap by besting former muay Thai rival Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the UFC 231 co-main event. “Bullet” was clearly the superior fighter over the course of five rounds and looks to be a difficult champion to dethrone as we head into 2019. Jedrzejczyk, perhaps the toughest opponent Shevchenko could have faced, is now a Top 3 fighter in two weight classes. Looming is a resurgent Jessica Eye, who enters the flyweight bubble list on the strength of a split verdict over Katlyn Chookagian in Toronto.
Elsewhere, Thiago Santos may have found a home at light heavyweight after a solid stint at 185 pounds. “Marreta” scored a second-round knockout of Jimi Manuwa in a wild brawl on the UFC 231 main draw, giving him two straight wins as a 205-er and a spot in our light heavyweight poll. Nina Ansaroff scored the biggest victory of her career to date by outpointing former title challenger Claudia Gadelha, a win which propels her to No. 5 at 115 pounds.
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