UFC 237 live blog: Jose Aldo vs. Alex Volkanovski

This is the UFC 237 live blog forJose Aldo vs. Alex Volkanovski, a featherweight fight at Saturday’s UFC event at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Aldo, a former UFC champion, has won three of his past five fights, while Volkanovski has won 16 straight fights.

Check out the UFC 237 live blog below.

Round 1: And it’s on! The arena in Rio erupts with Jose Aldo chants. Volkanovski taking the outside of the Octagon, using a lot of faints with the jab and landing few quick leg kicks. Aldo has yet to let his hands go. Three minutes left. Another leg kick followed by a jab from Volkanovski. Aldo very patient here. Good jab by Aldo. Oh, nice hook to the body by Aldo. Two minutes left. And Volkanovski pressuring now. Solid left hook by Aldo. The Brazilian is heating up. Another hard shot by Aldo. Now Volkanovski connects with a straight right. Volkanovski pressures Aldo against the cage. Not much going on, but Volkanovski clearly in control. They break away. Good knee by Aldo followed by two hooks. And Volkanovski lands a solid right to end the round. Close fight.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Volkanovski.

Round 2: We’re off to the second. Volkanovski working those leg kicks right off the bat. And another one. Volkanovski with a one-two. Aldo seems a bit gun shy, clearly not matching Volkanovski in volume. And Aldo connects with a hard jab. Volkanovski true to clinch Aldo and eats a knee to the stomach. Hard left hook land for Aldo. Referee Marc Goddard stops the action, Aldo was poked in the eye. Aldo coming out firing, pressuring a lot. Two minutes left. Volkanovski pressures Aldo against the cage, immediately begins attacking Aldo’s legs with knees. They scramble, Aldo attempts to take back but fails. He’s now pinned against the cage. They break off, both fighters look to land but nothing connects clean. The bell rings. Very close fight.

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

Round 3: Both guys not backing up, looking to pressure each other. Clean combination lands for Volkanovski. He now presses Aldo against the cage and the crowd boos. Aldo escapes and returns to the middle of the Octagon. Volkanovski keeps landing on Aldo. The Brazilian doing a great job rolling with the punches, but he’s failing to get any offense going on his end. Two minutes left. Volkanovski picking up steam, while Aldo seems to be slowing down. Once again, Volkanovski pins Aldo against the cage. One minute left. Aldo unable to break the clinch. Volkanovski doing just enough to avoid a reset by the referee. He controls Aldo until the bell rings. Clear round for Volkanovski.

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

Official decision: Alexander Volkanovski def Jose Aldo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)