UFC Paris kicked off as a spectacular night for combat sports fans around the world. So far, four knockouts had already electrified the crowd at the Accor Arena. To keep the night’s energy soaring, Kauê Fernandes stepped into the cage against Cage Warriors featherweight champ Harry Hardwick in a high-stakes lightweight bout. As soon as the Brazilian fighter made his entrance, the crowd started booing, letting everyone know who’s their favorite. 

After Fares Ziam withdrew from the event due to his grandmother’s passing, Dana White called on British star Harry Hardwick answered the CEO’s call on just five days’ notice. Riding an eight-fight winning streak, many expected him to pose a serious threat to Fernandes, who had already defeated Ili Topuria and Khamzat Chimaev’s teammate Guram Kutateladze in his previous fight. But when the clash began, the Brazilian was on fire.

Fernandes opened the fight in a karate stance, firing long-range shots that quickly started landing on Hardwick. Soon, the Brazilian 155er began unleashing punishing leg kicks that began taking their toll. Hardwick, wracked with pain, tried to switch his stance, but Fernandes’ relentless attacks ultimately crumbled him. The fight ended with Fernandes earning the 19th leg-kick finish in UFC history, while Hardwick was escorted out of the arena in a wheelchair, silencing the 15000+ UFC Paris crowd in the process. 

Although the crowd was still booing Kauê Fernandes after his stellar victory, he didn’t let it affect his humble side. The Brazilian graciously addressed the audience and even apologized for spoiling their night. However, he didn’t hesitate to send a message to the lightweight division.

The UFC Paris crowd had rallied behind the Brit to defeat Fernandes, but the Brazilian’s dominant performance quickly spoiled their expectations. As the post-fight celebrations continued, the new 155-pound sensation took the opportunity to apologize to the fans while also making sure the lightweight division felt the impact of his powerful leg kicks that dismantled Harry Hardwick in the first round. 

In the post-fight octagon interview, Fernandes said, “Hi Paris! Sorry for this. I love Paris, sorry. I have my speed, my power in my kicks, and my mind. I have the best kicks in this division. I believe in myself, my gym, and my coaches. In my mind, I am a soldier of the UFC. The UFC will decide my future, and I want to improve and show who I am in this division. I’m one of the best strikers and have top-tier jiu-jitsu, too. And they will see this!” 

Well, after the Brazilian’s victory, the lower rankings of the 155 lbs division might be waking up. Currently, #15-ranked Mauricio Ruffy will face #13-ranked Benoît Saint-Denis in the UFC Paris co-main event, so picking a top-15 opponent from him could be a challenge. However, the UFC could definitely look toward #14-ranked Grant Dawson to set up an exciting fight against Fernandes.

That said, do you think Kauê Fernandes is ready to take on a top-15 opponent after scoring a first-round knockout in Paris? Or does he need a bit more time to develop? Let us know in the comments below.