A UFC Fight Night 261 prelim ended in a visually unique knockout Saturday in Rio de Janeiro.
It was a counter left hook for Vitor Petrino that ended the fight, but it was the way gravity took Thomas Petersen down that generated extra attention. The knockout at Farmasi Arena ended the fight 26 seconds into the final round.
Petrino (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) landed the blow as a tired Petersen (10-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) charged forward. Rather than fall backward, Petersen dropped to his knees. However, his head and neck whiplashed backward and the forward on the way down.
Petrino, 28, has won back-to-back fights since moving to heavyweight. He called out Marcin Tybura on the microphone after Saturday’s win.
Petersen, 30, continues to alternate losses and wins thus far in his UFC career.
