Jaw-Dropping UFC Fight Night Knockout Brings Dana White to His Feet in Las Vegas

One of the most highly-anticipated matchups at the first UFC Fight Night of the year ended in an absolutely jaw-dropping knockout.
César Almeida Floors Abdul Razak Alhassan With One-Punch KO
The UFC's nearly month-long break came to an end this weekend when the promotion returned with UFC Fight Night: Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas 2 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV.
UFC Fight Night Live Results & Highlights – Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas 2
The event's prelims provided some incredible action and included notable finishes from Fatima Kline, Jacobe Smith, Marco Tulio, and Felipe Bunes, and the night's main card also got off to a hot start when Punahele Soriano upset Uros Medic with a 31-second knockout.
Christian Rodriguez followed up Soriano's incredible highlight by upsetting the formerly-undefeated Austin Bashi before Roman Kopylov and Chris Curtis went to war in a fight that ended in a controversial last-second finish, and things stayed in the middleweight divison for the next fight between hard hitters César Almeida and Abdul Razak Alhassan.
Knockout artists at the APEX! 💥
— UFC (@ufc) January 12, 2025
Cesar Almeida vs @JudoRazak
[ Watch #UFCVegas101 NOW on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/BC09QgxJ1l
The Almeida vs. Alhassan matchup seemed destined to produce a knockout leading up to UFC Vegas 101, and after "Judo Thunder" initially tried to utilize his grappling early on the 39-year-old got a bit too aggressive on the feet and ate a vicious counter punch.
FINISHED THE JOB IN THE FIRST ROUND 💥
— UFC (@ufc) January 12, 2025
Cesar Almeida took care of business at #UFCVegas101! pic.twitter.com/KGswlx4ejo
Almeida refrained from jumping in to land any follow-up punches as his opponent fell back to the canvas, and it took quite a while before Alhassan regained consciousness and was helped to the stool by his corner and the cageside medical personnel.
GOT THE BOSS MAN ON HIS FEET 😱#UFCVegas101 pic.twitter.com/f6OKE7Wm2p
— UFC (@ufc) January 12, 2025
Frustrated Fighter Slaps Coach after Losing at First UFC Fight Night of 2025
The highlight-reel knockout was Almeida's second finish since joining the UFC off of Dana White's Contender Series, and the former kickboxer now has back-to-back wins after suffering his first MMA loss in his second UFC appearance last June.
More UFC & MMA News
• Pivotal Welterweight Fight Booked for Rumored UFC Miami Event in April
• Will UFC 311 Go On? Ariel Helwani Shares Update on L.A Event Amid Wildfires
• Diego Lopes Reportedly in Talks to Headline UFC Mexico City vs. Ex-Champ
• (Exclusive) BKFC Boss Reveals Why Bryce Hall vs. Kimbo Slice Jr. Got Postponed
Stick with MMA Knockout for more daily coverage of the UFC, MMA, and Boxing.