Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos unleashed a dazzling spinning heel kick at UFC 224 to finish opponent Sean Strickland and live up to his ‘Capoeira’ nickname.
Kicking off the televised preliminary card of UFC 224 were welterweights Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos and Sean Strickland. The event went down in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday, and local favorite dos Santos clearly had the partizan crowd in his corner. Would fighting at home given him the edge over the talented American Strickland?
Off the opening bell, it was Strickland holding the center of the octagon while dos Santos circled on the outside. It was the Brazilian launching an overhand bomb early that caught his opponent’s attention, however. Strickland stayed cautious, stayed mobile, and had to be wary of the kicks of dos Santos. Strickland came close to catching a kick, but dos Santos was able to pull free. A takedown attempt by the Brazilian showed Strickland’s defensive game was tight, and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos went back to work from the outside, throwing overhands. Soon enough, however, Strickland was caught by spinning heel kick to the side of the head, and dropped! After a couple of follow-up strikes, the ref waved the action off, as Strickland was clearly out of it. He continued to grapple with the ref when all was said and done, underlining the fact that it was a smart stoppage.
WOW!!! @ElizeuCapoeira lives up to his nickname at #UFC224!! pic.twitter.com/vs8KzuY7sK
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) May 13, 2018
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos def. Sean Strickland by knockout, Round 1, 3:12
