Kennedy Nzechukwu Takes Advantage Of Last-Minute Main Event Vs. Ion Cutelaba
Original headliners Derrick Lewis vs. Serghei Spivac was canceled.
The UFC Fight Night 215 main event was canceled midway through.
Reports broke on Saturday that Derrick Lewis was rushed to the hospital due to an illness, forcing a last-minute cancellation of his bout against Serghei Spivac. The co-main event between Kennedy Nzechukwu and Ion Cutelaba was then elevated to the main feature.
And Nzechukwu didn’t hesitate in his first-ever UFC main event fight. It took him just two rounds to stop Cutelaba by punches.
In the first round, the light heavyweights quickly traded hard strikes. Cutelaba was looking for a takedown and eventually got it, but Nzechukwu was able to get back up on his feet.
In the second round, Nzechukwu put Cutelaba in a bad spot with continuous striking. He took advantage of the momentum and landed a strategically timed knee that was the beginning of the end. The fight ended with Cutelaba taking a flurry of punches from Nzechukwu.
Absolutely savage stoppage for Kennedy Nzechukwu 💥 #UFCVegas65 pic.twitter.com/swVD7aBHO5
— UFC (@ufc) November 19, 2022
Check out the full results:
- Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Ion Cutelaba via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:02
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Chase Sherman via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Muslim Salikhov def. Andre Fialho via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:03
- Jack Della Maddalena def. Danny Roberts via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:24
- Charles Johnson def. Zhalgas Zhumagulov via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Jennifer Maia def. Maryna Moroz via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Miles Johns def. Vince Morales unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ricky Turcios def. Kevin Natividad split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Vanessa Demopoulos def. Maria Oliveira unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Brady Hiestand def. Fernie Garcia unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Natalia Silva def. Tereza Bleda via TKO (spinning back kick) – Round 3, 1:27