Luque puts Muhammad to sleep with 1st-round counter left hook

A fight in the world's most prestigious arena brought out the best in "The Silent Assassin."

Vicente Luque's perfectly timed counter left hook silenced Belal Muhammad in the first round of their welterweight bout at UFC 205 in New York City's Madison Square Garden on Saturday to notch his fourth straight victory.

Filling in for Lyman Good on just over two weeks notice, Luque immediately took the center of the cage and kept Muhammad guessing by switching stances before landing the deciding blow. "Remember the Name" appeared game to oblige the Brazilian in a standup war - that is, until an ill-timed kick attempt was met with Luque's lead left mitt. The counter crumbled Muhammad to canvas, with Luque adding a few extra follow-up bombs for the stoppage, his fourth straight, just 1:19 into the first round.

Muhammad, who notched his first Octagon victory over Augusto Montano in September, looked intent on staging a barn burner with the dangerous Brazilian, a decision he was undoubtedly ruing moments later. The 28-year-old's promotional record now stands at 1-2.