Introduction
UFC 240: Holloway vs. Edgar — July 27, 2019, Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Max Holloway made his third UFC Featherweight Championship defence against Frankie Edgar in what most observers predicted would be a gruelling five-round chess match. Holloway delivered a dominant unanimous decision win — 50-45, 49-46, 48-47 on the judges' scorecards — systematically picking apart Edgar across all five rounds. Edgar, one of the most durable fighters in UFC history who had never been finished, survived the full distance but had no answer for Holloway's volume, accuracy, and relentless forward pressure.
The co-main featured Cris Cyborg in her final UFC appearance, defeating Felicia Spencer by unanimous decision. Cyborg's UFC tenure — defined by dominant title defences and one surprising loss at UFC 232 — ended in Edmonton. She departed for Bellator shortly after. For the broader 2019 context see UFC 239.
Quick Stats
📅 Date: July 27, 2019
📍 Venue: Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
👥 Attendance: 12,144
📺 Broadcast: ESPN+ PPV
🏆 Main Event: Holloway (c) vs. Edgar — UFC Featherweight Championship
✅ Result: Holloway def. Edgar via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47) — R5 5:00
🥇 Champion: Max Holloway retained the UFC Featherweight Championship (3rd defence)
The Build-Up
Frankie Edgar had been a legitimate FW title challenger for years. He had gone 7-1 since moving down from lightweight, with his only loss a split decision to Brian Ortega. Edgar's durability was the stuff of legend — in a long professional MMA career he had never been finished. He arrived in Edmonton with a case built on toughness, experience, and the technical wrestling game plan that had beaten champions across two weight classes. Holloway, after the gruelling five-round interim LW war against Poirier at UFC 236, was refocused on the FW belt. Most observers predicted a five-round war, and the fight delivered exactly that.
In the co-main, Cris Cyborg fought Felicia Spencer in what would prove to be her final UFC appearance. Cyborg had been the undisputed Women's FW force for years before her TKO loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 232. Spencer had earned her shot through a series of gutsy performances. The relationship between Cyborg and the UFC was fractious by this point, with both parties aware that the Edmonton fight might be her last under the banner.
Main Event — Holloway vs. Edgar
Max Holloway (c) vs. Frankie Edgar — UFC Featherweight Championship
The fight went the full five rounds. Holloway came out with his trademark forward pressure and volume striking, working behind his jab and landing right hands with consistency. Edgar attempted to use his movement and his clinch work to disrupt Holloway's rhythm, but Holloway's output was simply too high. As the rounds progressed, Holloway's accuracy and volume became increasingly dominant, and Edgar — though he never went down — was being outworked in nearly every exchange.
The judges scored it 50-45, 49-46, and 48-47 for Holloway — a unanimous decision that reflected his control across all five rounds, with only one judge crediting Edgar a round. Post-fight, Holloway was gracious about Edgar's legacy. Edgar's never-been-finished record remained intact; he had gone the distance with one of the FW division's most dominant champions. The performance demonstrated Holloway's durability and championship pedigree as much as any of his finishes.
Co-Main Event — Cyborg vs. Spencer
Cris Cyborg vs. Felicia Spencer — Women's Featherweight
Cyborg was technically superior and physically overwhelming throughout the three-round fight, controlling distance and landing hard shots. Spencer's toughness was undeniable — she absorbed punishment but could not mount sustained offence against Cyborg's power and experience. The judges scored it unanimously for Cyborg 30-27 across all three cards. For Cyborg, the win was her last inside a UFC cage; she departed for Bellator following contract disputes, taking a dominant record and a divisional legacy that remained one of women's MMA's most significant.
Full Results
Main Card
Holloway def. Edgar — Unanimous Decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47) | R5 5:00 | FW Championship (Holloway 3rd defence)
Cyborg def. Spencer — Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | R3 5:00 | Women's FW (Cyborg's final UFC fight)
Neal def. Price — TKO (punches) | R2 2:39 | WW
Tsarukyan def. Aubin-Mercier — Unanimous Decision | R3 5:00 | LW
Jotko def. Barriault — Split Decision | R3 5:00 | MW
Preliminary Card
Araujo def. Davis — Unanimous Decision | R3 5:00 | Women's FW
Dawodu def. Horie — TKO (head kick) | R3 4:09 | FW
Tucker def. Choi — Submission (rear-naked choke) | R3 3:17 | FW
Figueiredo def. Pantoja — Unanimous Decision | R3 5:00 | FLW
Bonuses & Awards
🏅 Fight of the Night ($50,000 each): Deiveson Figueiredo and Alexandre Pantoja, for their competitive flyweight prelim.
🏅 Performance of the Night ($50,000 each): Geoff Neal (R2 TKO of Niko Price) and Hakeem Dawodu (R3 TKO of Yoshinori Horie via head kick).
Records & Milestones
Holloway's dominant unanimous decision over Edgar reinforced his status as the most complete FW champion in UFC history. Edgar's never-been-finished record remained intact after surviving the full five rounds. Cyborg's departure from the UFC ended one of the division's most dominant runs in women's MMA history. Arman Tsarukyan's debut victory over Aubin-Mercier announced a new LW contender. Figueiredo and Pantoja's prelim Fight of the Night earned both fighters bonuses and foreshadowed their storied rivalry. The event drew 12,144 at Rogers Place.
Legacy & Impact
The 50-45 scorecard headline from Holloway vs. Edgar defines the performance — a five-round shutout against one of the FW division's most decorated and durable challengers. Holloway's ability to produce a one-sided dominant performance over a full championship distance against Edgar speaks to his technical mastery at 145 lb. The win also preserved Edgar's never-been-finished legacy while making the argument that Holloway was simply on a different level.
Cyborg's UFC exit removed one of the most polarising and dominant forces the women's FW division had ever seen. Her departure for Bellator reshaped the promotional landscape and left the UFC's women's FW division without its most famous challenger. The Figueiredo–Pantoja prelim, which earned both fighters Fight of the Night, was a preview of a rivalry that would define the flyweight division's next era.
Frequently Asked Questions
Had Frankie Edgar ever been finished before UFC 240?
Never before UFC 240. He went the full five rounds with Holloway, keeping his never-been-finished record intact. Holloway won by unanimous decision but Edgar was not stopped.
How did Holloway win against Edgar at UFC 240?
Holloway controlled the entire fight with his volume, accuracy, and forward pressure. He won by unanimous decision — 50-45, 49-46, 48-47 — across five rounds. Edgar survived but was outworked throughout.
Why did Cris Cyborg leave the UFC after UFC 240?
Contract disputes and a fractious relationship with the UFC following her loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 232. Cyborg signed with Bellator MMA, where she won the Women's Featherweight Championship.
How many title defences had Holloway made by UFC 240?
Three. He won the FW title at UFC 212, defended against Jose Aldo 2 at UFC 218, defended against Brian Ortega at UFC 231, then defeated Edgar at UFC 240.
Who received the UFC 240 post-fight bonuses?
Fight of the Night: Deiveson Figueiredo and Alexandre Pantoja ($50,000 each). Performance of the Night: Geoff Neal ($50,000) for his R2 TKO of Niko Price; Hakeem Dawodu ($50,000) for his R3 TKO of Yoshinori Horie via head kick.