Cyborg retains UFC 145-lb title with 1st-round thrashing of Kunitskaya
It was billed as a mismatch for a reason.
In yet another dominant effort, Cris Cyborg shucked off Yana Kunitskaya's attempt to wear her down in the clinch, dropped her with her patented right hand, then rained leather on her dome until she'd secured a first-round TKO and retained her featherweight crown Saturday in UFC 222's main event in Las Vegas.
No upset here Cyborg with another early finish #UFC222 pic.twitter.com/HulZUvBFlP
— Tony Fagnano (@BigToneMMA) March 4, 2018
The long indomitable Cyborg stepped in on a month's notice when an injury to featherweight titleholder Max Holloway left the bill without a main event, and extended her win streak to a gaudy 20 with her 17th career knockout in the second defense of the strap she claimed in July at UFC 214. She called for a clash of champions opposite bantamweight queen Amanda Nunes immediately following Saturday's mauling.
Cyborg came out swinging and cracked the former Invicta FC 135-pound titleholder with an overhand right, but the challenger countered with a low single-leg takedown and soon gained control of Cyborg's back in pursuit of a rear-naked choke. The champ patiently worked her way out of the precarious position, out of the clinch, then proceeded to find a home for her haymakers.
A low kick from Kunitskaya marked the beginning of the end, as Cyborg caught it, floored the Russian with yet another right hand, and mercilessly pounced with ground-and-pound until referee Herb Dean stepped in for the save 3:25 in.
The 28-year-old Kunitskaya - one of just six fighters to have challenged for a title in their first walk to the Octagon - has dropped three of her last five, all by stoppage.