- An American fighter called
Phil Hawes scored a quick-fire 18-second knockout Saturday onFight Island . - Hawes threw a barrage of punches at Jacob Malkoun's face, never ceasing until his opponent was motionless on the floor.
- It was a brutal but brilliant win for the
UFC debutant Hawes. - And you can see it right here.
FIGHT ISLAND — An American middleweight stunned everyone on Fight Island with an 18-second knockout on his UFC debut Saturday.
Phil Hawes, 31, left little time to even break into a sweat as he defeated his 185-pound opponent in lightning-quick fashion, prompting the UFC commentary crew of Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik to react wildly.
Hawes hit Jacob Malkoun with a barrage of heavy hits from the start, refusing to cease fire until he had his man face down on the canvas.
Insider was sat press row at the Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi and could see Malkoun lay motionless for an uncomfortable amount of time, unbeknownst to Hawes who was celebrating rambunctiously around the Octagon.
It was a win as brutal as it was brilliant for Hawes.
Watch it here:
—Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) October 24, 2020
And see Cormier and Anik react here:
—ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 24, 2020
Hawes appeared calmer after the win by saying he wants to continue racking up wins until he fights for a UFC title.
"It feels great, of course, but we can't get too excited because we have bigger things in line, we've got the bigger picture, which is to be a world champion and that's what we're here for," he said.
"I know since a lot of people watch my footage, they're afraid of my right hand, I finish a lot of people with my right hand, and soon as I seen him go backward I knew exactly what he was afraid of.
"Fight Island has been amazing."
With victory, Hawes advanced his pro MMA record to nine wins (seven knockouts and two submissions) against two losses.
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