Gregory Rodrigues bounced back into the win column with an impressive knockout finish in Boston.
On the prelims of UFC 292 at TD Garden, Rodrigues (14-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) smashed Denis Tiuliulin (11-8 MMA, 1-3 UFC) with vicious strikes on the ground to record a first-round stoppage at 1:43.
Aggressive from the beginning of the fight, Rodrigues shot in for a takedown, and took the fight to the mat, it would end a few seconds later. “Robocop” transitioned to full mount, took the back, and began raining down powerful, yet measured elbows to the head of Tiuliulin. After the first one connected, the referee stepped in closer, and another appeared to put Tiuliulin out as the referee stopped the fight.
Check out video of the finish below (via X):
With the win, Rodrigues returns to the win column after a first-round loss to Brunno Ferreira in January. That setback halted the momentum of back-to-back stoppages against Julian Marquez and Chidi Njokuani. Four of “Robocop’s” five UFC wins have come by stoppage before the third round.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 292 results include:
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Gregory Rodrigues def. Denis Tiuliulin via knockout (elbows) – Round 1, 1:43
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Kurt Holobaugh def. Austin Hubbard via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 2:39 – to win “TUF 31″ lightweight season
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Brad Katona def. Cody Gibson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) – to win “TUF 31″ bantamweight season
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Andre Petroski def. Gerald Meerschaert via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
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Natalia Silva def. Andrea Lee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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Karine Silva def. Maryna Moroz via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 4:59
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 292.
Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie