Australian Tyson Pedro scores savage first-round KO at UFC 278
Tyson Pedro recorded his second straight first-round KO victory at UFC 278 with a lightning quick finish over Harry Hunsucker to further punctuate his return to the sport.
Pedro, who came back from the longest injury lay-off in UFC history against Ike Villanueva in April, scored a first-round knockout win on that occasion.
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And this time around it was just as dominant, with Pedro landing a booming front kick to the body that sent Hunsucker down on the mat.
Pedro lands the body kick that set up victory in the light heavyweight clash. Zuffa LLC
The Western Sydney fighter followed up with one more punch as the referee rushed in to stop the contest, at just 1:05 in the first round.
"That is as flawless as a performance you will see inside the octagon," Joe Rogan said to Pedro after the fight.
"You train so hard for this shit," the Australian replied.
He finished it off with strikes. Zuffa LLC
"It's been a very hard camp, to get it down that quick, that's what it's all about. It feels amazing to be back. I can't wait to see my baby girl, I've been away for six months, my grandfather died. This is for you grandpa."
The UFC commentary team struggled to find superlatives to describe the Aussie's dominant showing.
Pedro celebrates his second straight KO victory. Zuffa LLC
"A flawless performance," Daniel Cormier said in commentary.
"It started out with a snapping jab, he caught him coming in, really stung him and then the kick to the body. That was all she wrote. Pedro has looked phenomenal in his return."
Both fighters started cautiously but then Pedro caught Hunsucker with a left jab as he was coming in.
The jab hurt Hunsucker, allowing Pedro to follow up with a front kick to the body that dropped him and it was all over from there.
Pedro sat in the middle of the Octagon in celebration until referee Mike Beltran was ready to raise his hand as the winner.
After being out of the UFC for four years, Pedro now has his second straight first-round knockout. He reportedly said he would give Hunsucker $10,000 if he wins the UFC's $50,000 performance of the night bonus.
Hunsucker's time in the promotion might be over after the loss in just over a minute to Pedro.
He dropped down to light-heavyweight when he lost his first two fights in the UFC at heavyweight, getting knocked out by Justin Tafa and Tai Tuivasa.
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