Now, that's how you stamp your ticket to the $1 million Featherweight World Grand Prix final.
Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire launched a devastating left across the jaw to drop Emmanuel Sanchez with a thud before raining down on him with punches. Sanchez, fighting to prevent being finished, made his way to his feet, but in doing so left himself vulnerable. Freire jumped into his vaunted guillotine choke toward the first-round technical submission, which came just 3:35 into the bout Friday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Just like that, the Featherweight World Grand Prix final is set, as double champion (featherweight and lightweight) Freire (32-4) will face undefeated A.J. McKee (17-0). The two finalists stood toe-to-toe in the cage following Freire's win, already exchanging verbal jabs.
Co-main event: Jason Jackson edges Neiman Gracie by unanimous decision; Welterweight
Jackson had to overcome early adversity in the form of raking his left eye up against the cage in the first round and he said he didn't regain his vision until the third. However, that didn't stop him from collecting a unanimous decision (29-28 on all three judges' scorecards) due to landing the more significant strikes, especially his jabs and leg kicks. Jackson didn't waste time saying that he wants a title shot next.
Tyrell Fortune destroys Jack May with first-round TKO; Heavyweight
Fortune changed levels, grabbed May's leg and scored an early takedown. Moments later, he swiftly took May's back and rained down on him with vicious punches, elbows and more punches until the ref stepped in to end it just three minutes and 16 seconds into the fight.
Fortune, fresh off his 10th victory, immediately yelled "Talk that s—t now," referring to the trash talk hurled his way by May during the weigh-in Thursday.
Usman Nurmagomedov pummels Mike Hamel to unanimous decision; Lightweight
With his famous cousin, Khabib Nurmagomedov, in his corner, Usman Nurmagomedov handled nonstop pressure from a game, gritty Hammel and countered him brilliantly to a unanimous decision. Judges had it 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 for Nurmagomedov, who tallied a staggering 38 kicks landed, to give himself an early birthday present two weeks shy of turning 23.
Kana Watanabe def. Alejandra Lara by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29); Women's flyweight
Watanabe overcame a storm of offense from Lara in the opening round and dished it back with thunderous blows by the end of the second. Five takedowns to zero and a slim edge in strikes paved the way for Watanabe to get the slight nod on the scorecards.