The UFC is in Croatia this weekend doing a really big show – not big in the superstar sense of the word, but big as in chock full of gigantic heavyweights. Five of the six fights on the main card are being contested at 205+ pounds, which could be great or terrible. When heavyweights are on point, you get quick fights with explosive knockouts. But sometimes you end up seeing 15 minute of guys gassing out.
The verdict is still out on the entire card, but if heavyweight Jared Cannonier’s fight on the undercard sets the pace, it should be a good night in Croatia / afternoon for those of us watching in North America. Cannonier just knocked out his opponent Cyril Asker two minutes and forty four seconds into the first round of their fight, bouncing Asker’s head off the canvas before finishing him with some ground and pound.
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/719181673884028928
It was a brutal finish and a borderline bad stoppage, but what’s the ref supposed to do when a guy is just conscious enough to kick his legs up in defense as a 241 pound monster descends on him? This is a rough sport, and many of these guys would rather have the chance to keep going than risk an early stoppage.