December 29, 2023 7:15 pm ET
UFC veteran Karlos Vemola has delivered several first-round finishes throughout his career, but this time, he was on the receiving end of a brutal finish as a massive favorite.
At Oktagon 51 in Prague, Czech Republic, Samuel Kristofic ended a two-fight skid by landing a devastating two-punch combination that froze and timbered Vemola (36-8). A short left followed by a hard right shut off Vemola’s lights, causing him to crash to the canvas at 1:48 of the opening round.
Although Kristofic (17-6) immediately recognized his opponent was finished, the referee ran in and dove over Vemola, being mindful to not contact the downed fighter. There would be no further follow-up punches attempted, Kristofic began celebrating, cashing as a +450 betting underdog.
Check out video of the finish below (via X):
UNBELIEVABLE KNOCKOUT 👊🏼
‘Pirát’ Krištofič 🇸🇰 stops Vémola emphatically in the first round.
Years of trash-talk and rivalry has just been put to rest.
What a spectacular moment! #OKTAGON51
📺 https://t.co/TVP7NaEp1x | DAZN | Channel 4 pic.twitter.com/MaBvwZhwyp
— OKTAGON MMA (@OktagonOfficial) December 29, 2023
Although he lost this outing, Vemola has been very successful since his exit from the UFC in 2013, building a record of 27-4. Kristofic picks up his first since a unanimous decision over Zdenek Polivka at Oktagon 36 last October.
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