Bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen beat Marlon Moraes via second-round TKO in the UFC Fight Night main event Saturday at Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Here are three takeaways from the event.
Sandhagen made it look easy
Sandhagen did something no one has done against Moraes ever since the latter became a top name in this sport: He made it look easy.
Moraes suffered a TKO to Henry Cejudo in a 2019 bantamweight title fight during his last loss, but Moraes looked great in the early rounds of that bout. His only other defeat since 2011 came via split decision to Raphael Assuncao in Moraes' Octagon debut.
But never before had Moraes been destroyed like this. Sandhagen - one of the UFC's smartest fighters - used a variety of strikes to piece "Magic" up in the second half of the first round before that incredible finish in the second.
This was essentially Sandhagen's best-case scenario - he couldn't have bounced back from his loss to Aljamain Sterling any better. It was the perfect performance, and it came against the No. 1-ranked bantamweight who knocked out Sterling in 2017.
So, not only did Sandhagen get back into the win column with a crazy finish, but he also reminded fans that he's very much part of the bantamweight elite and likely destined to challenge for the title one day.
Moraes nearing the end of his days as a contender?
In 2017, Moraes kicked off one of the most impressive four-fight winning streaks we've seen in the UFC. He knocked out Sterling and Jimmie Rivera, and he submitted Assuncao to earn a shot at the vacant 135-pound title.
However, Moraes' latest trio of fights could be signaling the start of the Brazilian's decline. He lost to Cejudo, won a controversial decision over Jose Aldo last December, and just lost to Sandhagen in devastating fashion.
Moraes is only 32 years old, but he's been around a long time. "Magic" has been fighting as a professional since 2007 and has competed in 31 pro bouts. So, if you combine his longevity with his recent losses, it makes sense to think he has exited his prime. Moraes went from starching his opponents to getting starched in a matter of a year or two. The extra damage he's taken recently will only quicken his fall.
It's important to remember that Moraes' recent losses are to a former champion and a top contender. Could he still beat many of the ranked bantamweights? Probably. But this is a guy who had been ranked No. 1 in the division for a while, and it's ultimately difficult to see him ever getting back to that spot after Saturday's loss.
How about that knockout?
Sandhagen's performance was terrific, Edson Barboza got back into the win column with his first victory as a featherweight, and there were several other exciting clashes.
But in terms of the biggest winner of Saturday's card, it's not even a competition: Say hello to Joaquin Buckley.
Buckley entered his fight against middleweight prospect Impa Kasanganay with an 0-1 record in the UFC following a loss to Kevin Holland in his August debut. Oddsmakers had him listed as a 2-1 underdog versus Kasanganay, an undefeated prospect fresh off his victorious UFC debut and a win on "Dana White's Contender Series."
And who knows, if Buckley fell short again, the UFC may not have even kept him around. But the brass will be sure to make Buckley a mainstay on the roster after what he did Saturday night.
Buckley threw a high kick midway through the second round after coming out with guns blazing in the first. Kasanganay blocked it and caught Buckley's left leg. What happened next was magical. Buckley spun to his right, essentially using Kasanganay holding his leg to get momentum, and blasted his opponent with a picture-perfect spinning back kick with his other leg.
Kasanganay collapsed, almost as if he were in slow motion. The commentators - and surely everyone else in the Flash Forum - jumped to their feet in shock.
Buckley did more than pull off what's easily the leading candidate for knockout of the year. This is a highlight we're going to see for years and years. His finish will be included in the UFC's intro packages, it'll be near the top of any all-time best knockouts list, and it'll forever be at the very top of Buckley's personal highlight reel.
This is going to do wonders for his career. The UFC's video of Buckley's win has nearly 6-million views as of late Saturday night, and it's been retweeted 90,000 times. This is a man who came in with zero notoriety, and now he has a knockout that went viral.
This is the kind of performance that can turn someone into a name - if not somewhat of a star - if he continues to have success in the UFC. Some people will see Buckley's knockout and move on with their day, but others will make a point to tune in for his next fight. Buckley's life is absolutely going to change after Saturday. As long as he doesn't lose three fights in a row and get cut, never to be heard from again, this victory could take Buckley a long way.
