Santiago Ponzinibbio practically had his night time ended early however as an alternative he got here again with a end of his personal after stopping Carlston Harris within the third spherical at UFC Vegas 101.
The blistering welterweight co-main occasion noticed Harrison drop Ponzinibbio within the opening body and the Brazilian did every thing attainable to get the end however he simply couldn’t do sufficient to finish the battle. Ponzinibbio took time to recuperate between rounds after which got here out weapons blazing with a brand new degree of confidence.
Lastly within the third spherical, Ponzinibbio began connecting with accuracy and energy and Harris was beginning to fade. The tip got here in considerably controversial vogue after Ponzinibbio unleashed a barrage of punches however Harris was nonetheless on his ft in the course of the closing sequence.
Nonetheless, referee Kerry Hatley thought he noticed sufficient to cease the battle with the top coming at 3:13 within the closing spherical.
“I put my coronary heart [out there] yet another time,” Ponzinibbio stated in regards to the win. “That is what I do contained in the cage. I’m right here combating with the most effective guys on the earth.”
When the battle began it appeared Harris’ dimension and size is perhaps an issue as he saved discovering a technique to land together with his lengthy, rangy punches and Ponzinibbio was struggling to keep away from the harm. An early knockdown had Ponzinibbio in bother however he saved scrambling and avoiding the comply with up pictures, which allowed him to make it to the top of the spherical so he may recuperate.
As time handed, Ponzinibbio discovered his vary and he started pouring on combos of his personal with Harrison fading underneath the strain. Ponzinibbio was relentless as soon as he smelled blood within the water and that’s what led to the ultimate sequence to attain the end, a lot to Harris’ chagrin.
“It stopped a little bit early,” Harris stated in regards to the conclusion of the battle. “He caught me clear. As quickly as he stopped the battle, I stated ‘I’m in.’”
Whatever the stoppage, it was a a lot wanted win for Ponzinibbio after he suffered back-to-back losses in his previous two appearances and now he can add one other knockout win to his resume to start out 2025.
