AN EXPLOSIVE FIRST-ROUND knockout saw Justin Gaethje power past Edson Barboza at UFC Philadelphia, with the American announcing himself as a real contender in the lightweight division.
Last night’s win over Brazil’s Barboza came as Gaethje’s second consecutive knockout victory, overrwiting back-to-back losses prior to that.
The end of the main event at Wells Frago Center came at 2:30 of round one after ‘The Highlight’ landed a big right hand that sent Barboza straight to the canvas, before the referee intervened.
The 30-year-old was delighted to come out on top and bring his record to 20-2-0, adding afterwards that “there are five or six guys in front of me and I want every one of them.”
Elsewhere, Scotland’s Paul Craig beat Nigerian fighter Kennedy Nzechukwu with a late submission in the light-heavyweight ranks, while Swedish star Jack Hermasson beat David Branch at heavyweight in the co-main event.
UFC Philadelphia main card results
- Justin Gaethje def. Edson Barboza via first-round KO (2:30)
- Jack Hermansson def. David Branch via sub (guillotine) (R1, 0:49)
- Josh Emmett def. Michael Johnson via third-round KO (4:14)
- Michelle Waterson def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz via UD (30-27 x3)
- Paul Craig def. Kennedy Nzechukwu via sub (triangle choke) (R3, 4:20
- Sodiq Yusuff def. Sheymon Moraes via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28 x2)
Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:
