Yair Rodriguez defeats Andre Fili with sensational KO kick

Yair Rodriguez showed why he's one of the most exciting prospects at 145 pounds.

The featherweight winner on the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America," Rodriguez got the UFC 197 main card off to a rollicking start with a stunning head-kick knockout of Andre "Touchy" Fili.

"El Pantera" was on the prowl from the start, throwing a pair of spinning kicks at Fili. It became clear that Fili's best chance to beat Rodriguez would be to grapple, but Rodriguez refused to be held and sprang up out of a takedown attempt to close the first round.

In the second round, it was Rodriguez who scored a takedown, the threat of which set up Fili for the finish. Backed up against the fence, Fili ducked down and put his head right in the line of fire. Rodriguez rose up for a jumping kick that caught Fili square in the face and knocked him out cold.

Rodriguez earned his first knockout victory in the UFC after winning his last three fights by decision.

Fili continues his recent trend of alternating between wins and losses, as he falls to 3-3 in his last six fights.