Former NRL player pulls off brutal flying knee KO
Former Sydney Roosters Under 20s player Tai Tuivasa has scored an incredible knockout in his UFC debut in Sydney.
The man they call 'Bam Bam' dispatched American Rashad Coulter with a huge knee to the head on Sunday, earning 'performance of the night' honours.
Tuivasa unleashed a big kick to Coulter's leg before producing the spectacular flying knee, which sent Coulter crashing to the canvas.
It was the first UFC win by an Australian indigenous fighter, with 24-year-old Tuivasa, who has an aboriginal mother and Samoan father, carrying the aboriginal flag into the ring.
"It's massive, there's not even an aboriginal flag on top of the Harbour Bridge," Tuivasa said.
"For me to carry that here on the world stage and have a bit of recognition, it means a lot to me.
Tuivasa was once regarded alongside the likes of Dylan Napa, Boyd Cordner and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, but quit rugby league in 2012 to take up fighting.
“I made the transition (from rugby league) for that, because I love that feeling. I love chasing that feeling. I love knocking people out," he said.
“I come to every fight to look for the knockout. I come headhunting. That’s what I do.
“Once my music come on and I heard my peoples, I was at home.
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“This is my hometown. This is my city.
“This is my home, this is my country, and I hope I get a crowd like that every time I get to perform here.”
Tuivasa's wasn't the only big knockout on the undercard on Sunday, with Ryan Benoit producing a monster head kick to beat Iranian-Australian fighter Ashkan Mokhtarian.
Of the other Aussies in action, Victorian Jake Matthews's move up to welterweight proved successful, as he broke a two-fight loss streak with a split points win over Serbian Bojan Velickovic.
"With my last two performances, I was very nervous coming in, I even cried before my walkout," Matthews said.
"It's a huge weight off my chest to be back in the win column."
Four-time Australian judo Olympian Daniel Kelly dropped a unanimous points decision to Canadian middleweight Elias Theodorou, however fans were left fuming over the controversial outcome.
The perocial home fans pelted the octagon with boos as Theodorou's hand was raised, with the Canadian returning serve by blasting Kelly and the crowd afterwards.
Queensland lightweight Damien Brown lost a split decision to Guam's Frank Camacho in a classic slugfest.
UFC debutante Nadia Kassem defeated fellow Australian Alex Chambers on unanimous points.
In the main event, Brazil's former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum improved his chances of landing another world title shot, with a unanimous points win over Poland's Marcin Tybura.
Second-ranked Werdum, 40, controlled the five-round bout against his eighth-rated 32-year-old opponent at Qudos Bank Arena, winning 50-45 on two judges cards and 49-46 on the third.
In the co-main event, late replacement and UFC debutante Jessica-Rose Clark caused a minor upset, scoring a split decision points win over fellow Australian Bec Rawlings.
with AAP