Cody Garbrandt still has it.
Shortly after the 10-second clacker sounded in Round 2, Garbrandt (12-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) landed a vicious right hook that flattened Raphael Assuncao with one second left. Out on impact, Assuncao (27-8 MMA, 11-5 UFC) crumpled to the canvas facedown, forcing referee Keith Peterson to wave off the fight.
The opening round was a tactical chess match. The volume of strikes thrown was low. Both fighters stayed at a distance, with Garbrandt targeting the low calf of Assuncao, who was constantly switching stances.
In Round 2, the pace picked up. Garbrandt returned to targeting Assuncao’s leg, which was wearing damage. Midway through the round, Garbrandt connected on his best strike of the fight – a punch, which knocked Assuncao off balance. The playful trash talk picked up, with Assuncao claiming he slipped on Garbrandt’s punch.
The conversation was all for not, however, as the next big punch was the last. Sneaking in a massive punch just before the horn sounded, Garbrandt picked up his first victory since December 2016.
Garbrandt snaps a three-fight losing skid dating back to his title loss to T.J. Dillashaw in November 2017. As for Assuncao, the Brazilian bantamweight has lost three straight fights for the first time in his professional career.
The bantamweight bout was the UFC 250 co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN/ESPN+ and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 250 results include:
- Cody Garbrandt def. Raphael Assuncao via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 4:59
- Aljamain Sterling def. Cory Sandhagen via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 1, 1:28
- Neil Magny def. Anthony Rocco Martin via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Sean O’Malley def. Eddie Wineland via KO (punch) — Round 1, 1:54
- Alex Caceres def. Chase Hooper via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Ian Heinisch def. Gerald Meerschaert via TKO (punches) — Round 1, 1:14
- Cody Stamann def. Brian Kelleher via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Maki Pitolo def. Charles Byrd via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:10
- Alex Perez def. Jussier Formiga via TKO (leg kicks) – Round 1, 4:06
- Devin Clark def. Alonzo Menifield via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Herbert Burns def. Evan Dunham via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:20
