Glover Teixeira needed just one minute 48 seconds to knock out Rashad Evans cold in Tampa, Florida.
Winner of The Ultimate Fighter 2, Evans was sent crashing face first to the mat after an onslaught of heavy blows from Teixeira.
It was only the second time Evans has been knocked out, but defeat left the 36-year-old questioning his future.
WOW! @gloverteixeira KOs @SugaRashadEvans inside the opening two minutes. ? #UFCTampa https://t.co/aXR1EoVOHg
— BT Sport UFC (@btsportufc) April 17, 2016
As reported by MMA fighting, Evans said after the fight:
I don’t want to lose hope, I don’t want to lose heart in fighting because it’s what I like to do and I’m at a low right now…It’s hard to know what to change after an embarrassing and disappointing loss.
I’m embarrassed and disappointed and you know, it’s sad, but, you have to go on, because this is what it’s about. Its easy to fight and to go through it when you’re on top and doing everything well, but the hardest thing is working through the disappointment, working through doubting yourself and everything else like that.
It’s not easy but I think given some time and deciding what’s best for me. Then I’ll make the right decisions on what needs to change, but as of now it’s not a clear decision I can say.
The main event wasn’t the only bout to see a dominant early stoppage…
JUST LIKE THAT! In the early prelims @JohnDodsonMMA made a statement. ? #UFCTampa https://t.co/UEaKVYJog7
— BT Sport UFC (@btsportufc) April 17, 2016
John Dodson unleashed hell to notch a TKO victory after just 47 seconds against Manny Gamburyan.
MMA Fighting reported Johnson as setting his sights on Dominick Cruz’s bantamweight title:
Why are you saying [bantamweight is] wide open, you’re looking at the new champion. The entire division is nothing but strong fast names and I want to submit my name, put my name in the hat for the title.
Court McGee was on the receiving end of a viscous right hand from Santiago Ponzinibbio…
BRUTAL! @SPonzinibbioMMA KOs @Court_McGee with a striking onslaught. ??? #UFCTampa https://t.co/YjgozUyiNt
— BT Sport UFC (@btsportufc) April 16, 2016
Khabib Nurmagomedov made his long awaited UFC return with victory over Darrell Horcher, taking his record to 23-0-0.
His previous fight was a win over current lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos in 2014, and Nurmagomedov believes his record should deliver him a title shot.
He said:
I know, and I feel I deserve a title shot, and forget about Tony [Ferguson].
After 728 days out, @TeamKhabib makes a winning return to the Octagon. ? #UFCTampa https://t.co/3WPQD9QN6D
— BT Sport UFC (@btsportufc) April 17, 2016
It was one hell of a night in Florida.
