Umar Nurmagomedov took on Raoni Barcelos in the first main card bout of the first UFC event of the year. The Dagestani standout lived up to his surname’s legacy, scoring a stunning first-round KO win over Barcelos.
After missing with a rear knee from the southpaw stance, Nurmagomedov caught Barcelos with a left hand that merely appeared to be a follow-through but shockingly put the Brazilian to sleep. Umar Nurmagomedov followed-up with a vicious hammerfist on his unconscious opponent, which he later regretted.
Watch the KO below:
The 27-year-old was not happy about the ’emotional’ hammerfist he threw without registering that his opponent was already knocked out. Nurmagomedov said in his post-fight octagon interview:
“I’m little bit feel bad because I didn’t see he’s already TKO’d and punch him. I didn’t see. I did this [hammerfist action] very quickly, like, emotional. I myself, I told him sorry. That’s why I feel bad. For win, I’m happy of course, I’m good. First time I do TKO in my life. And I don’t know, like crazy.”
Nurmagomedov’s KO win over Barcelos extended his undefeated record to 16-0. The Dagestani standout admitted that he himself was unaware of exactly how the finishing sequence came about.
Watch Umar Nurmagomedov’s octagon interview below: