Lucas Rocha had to overcome some adversity, but it made his knockout finish that much sweeter.
In the first bout of Dana White’s Contender Series 66 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Rocha (17-1) faced Davi Bittencourt in a bantamweight clash with a potential UFC contract on the line. Bittencourt (14-4) made a strong showing in the first round with a smothering grappling game, but his fortunes quickly reversed just 18 seconds into Round 2.
After giving up a lot of control time and fighting off submissions in the first round, Rocha knew he had to change things quickly in the second round. Ready for inevitable takedown attempt, Rocha timed a beautiful right knee up the middle as Bittencourt shot in. As a result, Bittencourt faceplanted to the canvas for a devastating knockout.
Check out video of the finish below (via X):
NASTY knee knockout from Rocha 💥 #DWCS pic.twitter.com/Ktn4fsGKjq
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 11, 2023
Rocha has now won six straight, a streak that includes five finishes. It was also a moment of redemption for the Brazilian, who was originally scheduled to complete at DWCS 65, but missed weight, causing the bout to be rebooked.
