The Legacy Fighting Alliance delivered a knockout of the year contender with a brutal spinning elbow in its main event on Friday night.
Erick Visconde connected the finishing blow against Ary Farias midway through the second round of their featherweight title bout.
As Visconde stepped in, Farias saw an opportunity to land a combination of his own, before his opponent spun to land a right spinning elbow.
Farias was left motionless on the canvas and the bout was immediately waved off so he could receive medical attention.
Reacting to the knockout, one fan said: “KO of the year contender”
It was devastating, but it is only January 11.
The victorious Visconde made his debut for the fight promotion nine months ago but lost to Joao Pedro Saldanha via guillotine choke in round one.
But he bounced back to earn the featherweight belt in his unanimous win over Busurmankul Abdibait.
The champion will hope his knockout draws the attention of UFC president Dana White to bring him to the big league.
LFA 199 was live on the UFC Fight Pass as White’s team struck a deal to exclusively broadcast their events in November 2021 – a contract that was renewed to last through 2025.
The fight promotion is a merger between RFA and Legacy FC, two promotions that have seen many MMA greats rise through the ranks.
Former UFC champions Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman alongside current belt holder Valentina Shevchenko to name a few.
The UFC continues to thrive because the best talent recognise they can receive the most public visibility through the company resulting in more potential revenue.
White has continued to keep his foot on the pedal as we approach the first major event of the year.
Islam Makhachev will defend his lightweight title at UFC 311 against Arman Tsarukyan in the main event while Merab Dvalishvili takes on Umar Nurmagomedov.
Then Israel Adesanya will fight for the first time since August against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 250 in Saudi Arabia.
That event sets up a thrilling UFC 312 that will see Dricus Du Plessis come up against Sean Strickland in a huge rematch.
A UFC Fight Night London is scheduled for March with the return of former welterweight champion Leon Edwards, facing off against Jack Della Maddalena.
MMA fans still eagerly await the announcement of Jon Jones against Tom Aspinall although talks have gone quiet after the heavyweight champion expressed his want to not fight the interim champion.