VIDO: Raulian Paiva Knocks Out Mark De La Rosa With Monster Right Hand to Open UFC Rio Rancho
By Sam Dunn
Now THAT is how you start off a fight card! In flyweight action to begin prelims at UFC Fight Night in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, Brazil's Raulian Paiva was busy trading blows past the halfway point of his bout with Mark De La Rosa -- and then, he saw his opening. After landing a flush right hand to his opponent's lower jaw, he pounced on De La Rosa to deliver a courtesy blow or two before the referee did his duty and stopped the fight.
WHAT A RIGHT HAND! HUGE Win for @RaulianPaivaMMA!#UFCRioRancho pic.twitter.com/NvhiuG5kJ2
— UFC (@ufc) February 15, 2020
Boom. TKO.
It was a fine showing from Paiva and started the night off right, but it's a bummer for De La Rosa, who made history alongside his wife, Montana, before the evening began in becoming the first married couple to fight on the same MMA card.
De La Rosa worked the body well but Paiva clearly hits harder and he was just timing Mark over and over as the fight progressed. #UFCRioRancho
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) February 15, 2020
Well, you can bet that Montana will be walking to the Octagon later tonight with some extra motivation. Ooohhh, boy, will she ever.