Santiago Ponzinibbio Immobilizes, Faceplants Neil Magny in UFC Fight Night 140 Main Event

Santiago Ponzinibbio (27-3) has his first top-ten win, pancaking Neil Magny in the fourth round to cap a stellar performance! The Argentine now rides a seven-fight UFC win streak. #UFCArgentina pic.twitter.com/6zg3Pk5trK

— Tanuki Usman (@Hamderlei) November 18, 2018

Santiago Ponzinibbio had Parque Roca Arena full of rabid fans cheering him on at UFC Fight Night 140 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and he didn’t disappoint. “Gente Boa” used a steady, crippling attack of leg kicks against veteran contender Neil Magny from the opening horn.

With Magny (21-7) bloodied and hobbling around the Octagon from a badly wounded left leg, the Argentinean finally ended the misery by laying Magny out with an atomic bomb of a right hand. Magny backed into the fence when a final leg kick hurt him, but when Ponzinibbio (27-3) closed the gap, he unfurled an overhand right to the jaw that leveled his opponent.

The punch was eerily similar to the same punch Marvin Hagler landed on Thomas Hearns and Magny, from Denver, slumped over and fell face first, just like Hearns. The spectacular knockout came at 2:36 of the fourth, capping off a thrilling main card.

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Lamas Stops Elkins

Ricardo Lamas did one of the hardest things to do in mixed martial arts; stop Darren Elkins.

The Chicago-based featherweight used excellent movement and timely striking to pick Elkins apart on the feet, set up primarily by nasty leg kicks. Elkins, per the norm, was cut early around the eyes and his cuts only worsened as Lamas (19-7) continued to tear into him.

Lamas scored a few timely takedowns in the contest as well, but when “The Bully” started unloading elbows and punches from on top after a third-round takedown, Elkins (24-7) was in serious peril. Lamas, sensing a knockout was looming, poured on the offense and rained down punches until referee Keith Peterson stepped in and halted the mugging. The end came 4:09 into the third.

Walker Fells Rountree

When someone takes too many shots of Johnnie Walker, he is usually left flat on his back, unconscious. That’s exactly what happened to "TUF 23" veteran Khalil Rountree (7-3) as he was starched by Johnny Walker in the first round from a right elbow to the head and follow-up punches.

In what was one of the most violent knockouts of the latter stages of 2018, Brazil’s Walker (15-3) splayed Rountree across the canvas, completely out cold, ending the fight at 1:57 of the first.

Heinisch Wears Down Ferreira

Rising middleweight Ian Heinisch took the fight to Cezar Ferreira early and often and he never looked back. “The Hurricane” came blowing out of his corner and swarmed the Brazilian with punches and when Ferreira scored a takedown, Heinisch attempted a guillotine and armbar off his back.

Heinisch (12-1) wore “Mutante” down with his pressure and by the time the fight concluded, Ferreira (13-7) was nearly knocked out from punches and was gasping for air. There was no doubt with the cageside judges, either, as Heinisch, from Colorado, won a unanimous decision with scores of 30-27 and 29-28 (twice).

Vera Tees Off On, Finishes Cannetti

Bantamweight contender Marlon Vera struggled mightily in the opening frame against Guido Cannetti, but he stormed back in the second stanza like a raging maniac. “Chito” rocked and dropped Cannetti with a series of knees to the head within the clinch and nearly subbed him with a follow-up guillotine.

The Argentinean was able to escape out of the choke and pop back up to his feet, but Vera was relentless. Vera (12-5) unloaded a flurry of knees and punches to the head and body and once Cannetti (8-4) stumbled to the canvas, it was over. Vera immediately pounced on “The Ninja’s” back and sunk in a textbook rear-naked choke, forcing the tap.

The official time of the submission was 1:31 into the second.

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Calvillo Wrecks Botelho in Return Bout

It had been nearly a year since California’s Cynthia Calvillo stepped into the Octagon and lost a decision to Carla Esparza. Calvillo made sure she wouldn’t lose on Saturday as she exploited opponent Poliana Botelho’s weakness on the ground with a first-round submission win.

Calvillo (7-1) caught a Botelho kick and forced the Brazilian to the canvas and from there, she turned up the heat. Calvillo dished out solid ground-and-pound and once Botelho (7-2) scrambled to turtle position, Calvillo locked in a rear-naked choke from the side. Botelho couldn’t escape, and at the 4:48 mark of the stanza, bowed out of the strawweight contest.

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