Umar Nurmagomedov got his hand raised in the bantamweight main card opener in the UFC’s first event of 2023, UFC Vegas 67. The Khabib Nurmagomedov protégé faced Brazil’s Raoni Barcelos in a three round bout. ‘The Eagle’s cousin knocked his opponent out cold toward the end of the first round to kick off the show.

Nurmagomedov boasted a 15-0 record heading into the bout, with three of those under the UFC. He was also the biggest betting favorite on the card. As for Barcelos, the 35-year-old had a 17-3 record with a 6-2 record in the UFC.

Fans react to Umar Nurmagomedov win at UFC Vegas 67

With his win at UFC Vegas 67, Umar Nurmagomedov became the first man to knock out Raoni Barcelos. The 26-year-old started the fight on his feet and did not resort to the famed Dagestani grappling in the opening minutes. Both fighters landed heavy and kept throwing big shots. However, Nurmagomedov dictated the range with his kicks and well-timed punches.

Ultimately, it was one of those punches that paid the dividend as he landed a perfect left, following a knee that missed. A moment of brilliant improvisation set his record to 16-0. Even the Dagestani fighter showed his surprise at the knockout during the post-fight interview.

Fans on Twitter also shared their excitement at the finish.

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