Defending champion Holloway dominated the bout from the outset and rarely let up as he unleashed a blistering punching performance that left a bloodied and bruised Ortega unable to come out for the fifth round at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.  

Holloway scored with a big right hand midway through the first round as the reigning champion landed the more significant shots in the opening exchanges.

Ortega hit back with an uppercut right and solid left, but continued tom be caught with Holloway’s rangy jabs.

The champion began to force the pace towards the end of the first as both traded solid shots.

Ortega’s attempted takedowns at the end of the first were stuffed, with Holloway appearing to edge the opening stanza. 

Holloway took the fight to his opponent in the second with Ortega soon bleeding heavily from repeated jabs.

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The challenger still threw out elbows and landed sporadic shots of his own but they largely made little mark as Holloway landed punch after punch through Ortega’s defense.

Ortega started with solid shots at the start of the third and attempted a takedown as the momentum of the fight briefly shifted, but Holloway was soon back in his rhythm and landing yet more right and left hands.

Ortega still pressed forward and put Holloway against the cage for the closing stages of the third, but the champion remained in control.

The Hawaii native hit with further hand strikes at the start of the fourth, pinning Ortega to the cage as he looked out on his feet.

Holloway relentlessly pressed the initiative as Ortega took a pounding, desperately trying to fend off the attacks with a takedown and grappling, but Holloway unlocked himself and simply unloaded further.

Holloway closed out the fourth with some big shots as Ortega’s face was a bloodied and bruised mess, and he was unable to face the fifth and final round. 

The win for Holloway, 27, handed Ortega his first defeat in his 15th contest, and moved Holloway’s remarkable winning to streak to 13 as he cemented his reputation as one of the pound-for-pound kings of the promotion.