Featherweight Kevin Vallejos took little time in putting away Josh Emmett in violent fashion at UFC Vegas 114 on Saturday.
The Argentinian, in his first main event with the company, proved that a December finish of Giga Chikadze was no fluke, decimating the 41-year old veteran en route to a first round TKO finish.
Emmett, who once fought for an interim title in the division, had hoped to get his career back on track at the event, after suffering back-to-back losses against Lerone Murphy and Youssef Zalal. Instead, it was Vallejos raising his stock yet again (he’s now 4-0 in the UFC)— and earning a Performance of the Night bonus in the process.
The second such bonus at UFC Vegas 114 went to Manoel Sosa, a Contender Series newcomer who knocked Bolaji Oki out clean.
The biggest surprise on the night, perhaps, was that the heavyweight slugfest between Steven Asplund and Vitor Petrino didn’t win Fight of the Night. It had seemed like a lock until Harry Hardwick vs. Marwan Rahiki rolled around. That back-and-forth affair lasted ten minutes and saw both fighters hurt the other repeatedly, until Hardwick was unable to come out for the third round due to a broken jaw.
All four bonus winners at UFC Vegas 114 take home $100,000 U.S. for their efforts. Additionally, Bia Mesquita, Elijah Smith, and Ion Cutelaba all pocket $25,000 for having finishes on the night.
