UFC 264 results: Max Griffin lands early knockdown, ultimately wins unanimous decision over Carlos Condit

Max Griffin had to take off his fan hat for 15 minutes at UFC 264 on Saturday night while earning a win over one of his idols after beating Carlos Condit by unanimous decision.

It was a strong showing from Griffin as he earned a knockdown in the first round and then continued to pour on the punishment until the final horn sounded to get the job done against a game opponent in Condit. The judges scored the fight 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 with Griffin getting the win, which is his third in a row overall.

“What a great guy. I used to look up to him, I still do,” Griffin said about Condit afterwards. “I had to let him know I was here. I think I dropped him in the first. He’s one of the best in the world, a legend.”

Stepping into the biggest opportunity of his career, Griffin showed no nerves while attacking Condit from the very start of the fight while establishing a series of nasty leg kicks that were chopping away at the former interim welterweight champion. Time and again, Condit was spun around from the kicks as Griffin was attacking both legs no matter the stance.

With less than a minute remaining in the opening round, Griffin invited Condit into an exchange and that’s when he dropped the veteran welterweight with a stiff punch. Griffin followed him to the ground where he looked to add to the damage done with a few more shots but once he realized Condit wasn’t going away, he backed out rather than exhausting himself looking for a finish that wasn’t there.

Between rounds, Condit made some necessary adjustments and he came out firing with a lighting quick right hand that started giving Griffin some issues in round two. With Griffin slowing down during the exchanges, Condit was able to connect on target with more regularity including a well-timed right hook that landed flush on the jaw.

With five minutes remaining, Condit remained the aggressor, although Griffin was ready to meet him in the middle to trade punches. A stinging left hook from Griffin backed off Condit and he followed that up a few moments later with a blistering right that seemingly staggered “The Natural Born Kiler.”

By the end of the fight, Condit was wearing a twisted nose to show the damage he absorbed from Griffin over three rounds.

Always considered a tough out at 170 pounds, Griffin has now amassed his best win streak since joining the UFC roster and he’ll look to build off this performance as he moves closer and closer to top 15 competition in the future.