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Thomas Almeida vs. Caio Machado
Legacy Fighting Championship 32
June 20 | Bossier City, La.
Patrick Wyman: By the time Thomas Almeida faced off with fellow Brazilian Caio Machado in Texas’ Legacy FC promotion, the hype had reached nearly unsustainable levels, and a let-down would not have been all that surprising. Almeida, however, showed precisely why everybody was so high on him: a devastating counter left hook to the liver-right low kick combination that floored the overmatched Machado in seconds. That combination was a new development for Almeida, and given what it requires in terms of timing, subtle footwork, and speed, it showed just how developed the blue-chipper’s striking really was.

Jesse Denis: While there is something jarring and visceral about a crushing knockout that just about anyone understands, real sick folks like me prefer body blows. A clean shot to the liver might be one of the most painful experience in combat. As the liver leaks toxins into your battered body, paralyzed on the mat, that fighter tends to wish he’d been knocked unconscious in that moment of agony instead.

When Thomas Almeida toasted Caio Machado to the body, it very much seemed that way. “Tominhas” has been working the midsection of his countryman with knees in the clinch, but the last exchange saw Machado cover his head as Almeida threw an overhand right. Unfortunately, what followed was a blistering left hook to the side of the torso. As is usually the case, it took a second for the gravity of the situation to set in, and in that moment, you could see the will of Machado break as he fell to ground, leaving him defenseless as Almeida swarmed to finish.

Jordan Breen: Guys like Thomas Almeida are why it's still worth tuning into AXS TV as an MMA fan. Any given Friday night, a quality regional promotion could put a blue-chip stud in the cage who is imminently ready for UFC action. Machado is no can, either, as he was 5-0 coming into the bout and had been thoroughly dominant in all of his fights prior. Also, while this fight only helped to solidify the hype surrounding the 23-year-old bantamweight's prospect status, it was also the last in the 16-fight stoppage streak to start his pro career. In his next bout, Almeida made the jump to the UFC, where he battered uncommonly gritty midwesterner Tim Gorman with his full arsenal for 15 minutes, but was forced to go the distance for the first time. In spite of that, I think there will be more Caio Machados in the wake of young “Thominas” in the future.

Number 7 » Moore Than He Could Handle