UFC 225 live blog: Holly Holm vs. Megan Anderson

This is the UFC 225 live blog for Holly Holm vs. Megan Anderson, a women’s featherweight bout at Saturday night’s UFC event at the United Center in Chicago.

Holm, who is 1-4 in her last five bouts, fights Anderson, a former Invicta FC champion who has won four consecutive bouts, on the main card.

Check out the UFC 225 live blog below.

Round 1: Kevin MacDonald the in-cage official for this bout. Body kick by Holm. Anderson shrugs it off and steps in for a huge knee that connects on Holm’s chin. Anderson is flurrying, but Holm is able to slip out and recover. She gets a hold of Anderson and presses her against the cage. Quick elbow in close by Holm connects. She goes to it again and scores. They’re battling hard for underhooks and Holm is refusing to give Anderson any room to breathe. Knees to the thigh and body by Holm. Anderson is able to get free. Holm avoiding Anderson’s distance striking. Front kick to the face lands for Holm. She shoots in for a takedown and has to fight to complete it. Anderson trying to control the head, but Holm gets it free and is sitting in side control. Elbow from the top by Holm who tries to stack Anderson up. Anderson gets her legs around Holm and holds her there until time runs out.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Holm.

Round 2: After a brief striking exchange, Holm goes back to the clinch and Anderson can’t stop the fight from heading back to the fence. She manages to break that and score with a right hand. Holm with the body kicks, but Anderson comes over the top with a punch that connects. Anderson hits a knee to the body and Holm times a takedown perfectly to get this back down to the mat. Holm throwing elbows at Anderson’s leg as she tries to advance to full mount. She settles back into side control. Short punches inside are landing for Holm. She’s almost in full mount and she attempts an arm-triangle but gives up on it to finish establishing the dominant position. Punches and elbows from the top by Holm. Holm drops her shoulder on Anderson’s face. Holm not giving Anderson any opening to escape and she’s scoring big with ground-and-pound.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Holm. Overall 20-18, Holm.

Round 3: Body kick lands for Anderson. Holm gets a counter punch, but Anderson lands one of her own as Holm tries to follow with a kick that momentarily has Holm off balance. The former bantamweight champion commits to takedown and Anderson is holding on for dear life to not be brought down again. Holm has an underhook against the fence. Holm just muscles her down and rapidly advances to mount. More ground-and-pound, but Anderson is able to throw her legs up and use the cage to change positions and get Holm off of her. They’re back in the center of the cage with just over two minutes to go. Teep to the body by Holm. Body lock for Holm and she takes Anderson down again. She passes into full mount with under a minute remaining in the third round. Holm postures up and rains down punches. Anderson scrambles out and somehow gets into top position herself, but it’s too little, too late.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Holm. Overall 30-27, Holm.

Official result: Holly Holm def. Megan Anderson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)