Gabriel Gonzaga rushed toward Matt Mitrione early in the first round of their UFC on FOX 13 heavyweight showdown on Saturday night.
Mitrione was ready. The Blackzilians fighter nicknamed “Meathead” grazed Gonzaga (16-9) with a right hand, then crushed him with a left.
A series of right hands to the grounded fighter later, it was all over. Mitrione (8-3) got his eighth UFC knockout at 1:59 of the first round in Phoenix.
“I’m on top of the world,” said Mitrione, who won his third straight fight. “I feel like I’m one of the best in the world here. I cut my teeth here, I made my mistakes, and now I’m coming into my own here.”
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There was a bit of confusion at the end, as Mitrione appeared to let up, then landed a couple more punches before referee Herb Dean waved it off. But Mitrione said it was all part of the plan.
“I knew it was still live, he was still trying to crawl under, he’s good at grappling,” said Mitrione. “So I wasn’t going to give him a leg. I stepped away.”