Post-Fight Stock Report: UFC 240

STOCK UP

Max Holloway: In his first fight since his loss to Dustin Poirier at 155 pounds, Holloway proved again that he has not yet peaked and continues to grow. He taught a master class in striking at Edgar’s expense. Over five rounds, Holloway neutralized Edgar’s wrestling and peppered him with crisp, precise boxing combinations. This fight served as a reminder to the masses: Holloway remains one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, the loss to Poirier notwithstanding. Back building momentum in the division over which he rules, the Hawaiian has now won 14 of his last 15 fights.

Felicia Spencer: Despite her decision loss to Cristiane Justino in the co-main event, Spencer proved she belonged among the featherweight elite. The first woman to cut “Cyborg” in MMA competition, Spencer showed incredible grit and resilience, as she was never fazed by the Brazilian’s heavy hands throughout the first round. While the fight marked Spencer’s first loss as a professional, it will serve as a tremendous learning experience for the previously unbeaten Canadian, and one can only expect her to grow further from here.

Geoff Neal: Neal has been one of the most successful fighters to come off of Dana White’s Contender Series, and his technical knockout of Niko Price in his debut on a pay-per-view main card may have earned him an opportunity against a ranked opponent. The Dallas-based welterweight has displayed an impressive striking arsenal, but his win over Price showed that “Handz of Steel” continues to evolve in all aspects of MMA. Against Price, he showcased an improved wrestling game and paired it with some absolutely vicious ground-and-pound. Neal competes in one of the UFC’s most stacked divisions, but he put those at the front of the pack on notice.

STOCK DOWN

Frankie Edgar: The former lightweight champion fell short in his fifth consecutive UFC title fight. To make matters worse, “The Answer” did not look nearly as competitive as most hoped. It was widely believed Edgar would need to lean on his grappling in order to be successful, but he only completed one takedown in five rounds and failed to consolidate it with damage, control or positional advances. As a result, Edgar was stuck on the end of Holloway’s punches and unable to solve the Hawaiian’s puzzle. Though he remains a sure-fire hall of famer, it appears as though the 37-year-old Edgar has fought for UFC gold for the last time.

Niko Price: Price was once viewed as one of the more promising prospects the welterweight division had to offer, but after falling to 1-2 with a pair of knockout losses across his last three appearances, time may be running out on his chance to make a real move at 170 pounds. Price has been too reliant on enticing his opponents to brawl, and while “The Hybrid” relishes being a fan favorite, he likely needs to learn to fight smarter if he ever wants to get over the gatekeeper-to-contender hump. Working in Price’s favor: He does not turn 30 until September.

Olivier Aubin-Mercier: After breaking out as a Top 15 lightweight in 2018, “The Ultimate Fighter Nations” finalist has now suffered three consecutive defeats and finds his career in a bit of limbo. Aubin-Mercier fared well on the feet but failed to put a stop to Arman Tsarukyan’s relentless grappling attack, which ultimately led to a lopsided decision loss. If “The Canadian Gangster” wants to return to his past success, changes are likely in order.