Louis Smolka’s streak of avoiding the knockout came to an end Saturday at UFC on ESPN 31 courtesy of Vince Morales.
Morales (11-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC) scored a violent first-round finish of Smolka (17-8 MMA, 8-8 UFC) in their bantamweight matchup, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
As Smolka tried to attack with knees in the clinch, Morales loaded up on a counter left hand that dropped him and put the lights out for the stoppage at the 2:02 mark of Round 1.
Check out the replay below (via Twitter):
That's how you start the show! 😳@Vandetta135 gets the finish in RD 1️⃣! #UFCVegas44 pic.twitter.com/6asiBa5Qte
— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2021
'Vandetta' showing off that 135 power 🙌 #UFCVegas44 pic.twitter.com/fKZS8YwUbp
— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2021
With back-to-back wins in the octagon for the first time, Morales said he wants a step up next time he enters the octagon.
“It’s my first knockout in the UFC,” Morales said in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. “It feels good man. I’d love to get on that London card (in March), I’ve never been to London. I heard Nathaniel Wood needs an opponent”
