UFC 212 live blog: Jose Aldo vs. Max Holloway

This is the UFC 212 live blog for Jose Aldo vs. Max Holloway, a featherweight bout at Saturday night's UFC event at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Aldo, who has won four of his past five fights, will square off against Holloway, who has won 10 straight fights, in the main event.

Check out the UFC 212 live blog below.

Round 1: They touched gloves. Unification of the featherweight title. McCarthy is the referee. A little feel out moment, as Holloway circles. Some fakes of the legs from Aldo, and the crowd chants. Holloway moves in and Aldo clears out of there. Now Holloway with a body punch. Holloway drops his hands and shakes them out. Perhaps already showing some embracing of the moment. Now Aldo with a right hand from Aldo, and that landed. Left from Holloway. Tit for tat. Aldo with a series of big shots, beginning with a combo of punches — then a knee, and a hook. Wow! Max was rocked there, but he survived. That is just a reminder of how explosive Aldo is. Right hand from Holloway. Crowd chants loudly for their local hero. Aldo snaps a jab, and that just halts Holloway. Holloway goes low for a body shot. Another right hand from Aldo, clean uppercut, and the crowd again erupts. Inside of 30 seconds, and Holloway trying to cut in on Aldo, but not finding it easy. Spinning kick lands to Aldo’s body. But that round to Aldo. MMA Fighting scores R1 for Aldo, 10-9.

Round 2: Holloway rolling. Aldo throws a body shot, and Holloway counters over top with a right. Holloway trying to create, and he comes in with a one-two and gets out. Again, Aldo with the jab, which works like a joust right into Holloway’s jaw. Another big one-two from Aldo, and Holloway counters. That time Aldo waited for Holloway to commit to his strikes, and opened up with a barrage of counters. Holloway with a great combination there, which caught Aldo reeling. That was super-quick stuff. Another right hand from Holloway, and Aldo narrowly got out of the way there, didn’t take it flush. Right hand from Holloway, who is starting to time some stuff out. They trade right in the middle, and each got a good punch through. Right hand from Aldo, landed flush, and it was a counter shot — that was hard. A little clinch moment, and that helped Holloway land a nice hard shot of his own. Some swelling on the Hawaiian’s face. The jab of Aldo snaps home again. That’s landing. Aldo also with some swelling on his face. Crisp combo there from Aldo, and Holloway starts showboating. Crazy end there. Crazy exchange. Spinning kick from Aldo, while attitude of Holloway loving it. MMA Fighting scores R2 for Aldo, 10-9 (20-18 overall)

Round 3: Holloway the one moving forward, throwing the left jab out there — more as decoy, smokescreen, or set up. Right hand from Holloway, who is starting to land rhythmically. Crazy exchange in the middle, and left hand lands from Holloway. He’s slowly making it his fight, but he’s got an uphill climb (perhaps). Great stuff early from Holloway here, as he again lands a right hand. And now a right hand drops him! He goes for the kill, as Aldo flails! Holloway all over him, as Aldo is trying desperately shake the cob webs. Holloway postures up, and he’s landing right hands. Full mount, and it’s all Holloway landing shots! This thing’s close to being over, and Aldo rolls. Holloway grabs his back, and now looking for a choke. Very poised. Continues to lambast him with right hands. Now left hands, and Aldo’s head rocking back with each. Great guts, but McCarthy leaning in. That’s it! Holloway just took out Jose Aldo. That is insane.

UFC 212 official results: Max Holloway def. Jose Aldo via TKO (strikes) at 4:13 of R3