After nearly three years outside of the cage due to injuries, Leonardo Santos delivered an overhand right that will surely earn him a performance of the night bonus.
Stevie Ray is a fun Scottish lightweight who joined the UFC as a two-time Cage Warriors champion. He won five of his first six fights in the Octagon with notable wins over Ross Pearson and Joe Lauzon. Ray then suffered a pair of consecutive losses at the hands of Paul Felder and Kajan Johnson before rebounding in October with a win against Jessin Ayari. He was tasked with the returning Leanardo Santos at UFC Stockholm.
Santos will make his first Octagon appearance since 2016 at UFC Stockholm as he pulled out of fights in both 2017 and 2018 with injuries. The Brazilian joined the promotion by winning the second season of TUF Brazil. Since then, he is undefeated in the cage (one draw with Norman Parke) with very notable wins over Anthony Rocco Martin and Kevin Lee.
Santos may have made the UFC brass wait on his return to the Octagon, but he did not let much time go by before earning his sixth UFC victory in seven fights. At 2:16 of the first round, the Brazilian countered with an overhand right that knocked out Ray cold and earned Santos the walk-off KO. He would take his walk-off win quite literally as he exited the Octagon in his celebration almost making it into the back.
No… reallly… he walked off. #UFCStockholm pic.twitter.com/7ZJGdXPuVa
— UFC (@ufc) June 1, 2019
After the fight, the Brazilian called for a quick turnaround, looking to get on UFC 240. Santos could be a fighter to watch for the reminder of 2019 at lightweight.
Leonardo Santos def. Stevie Ray via KO (punch), Round 1, 2:17